He’s DHing and batting eighth. Carpenter lasted started Aug. 26, and he has only three at-bats in September. This isn’t necessarily the end for him — he’s hoping to play in 2025 — but it could be his last start with the Cardinals.

Carpenter said he likes his current role as part-time player and full-time mentor for the Cardinals and is open to doing it again next year. It’s unclear what his salary demands might be. Carpenter cashed in likely for the last time after he hit .305 with 15 home runs and 37 RBI in 47 games for the Yankees in 2022. The Padres signed him to a two-year, $12 million contract that winter. Last offseason, San Diego traded him to Atlanta to offload his salary and the Braves released him, which allowed him to sign a one-year contract with St. Louis. He’s hitting .236 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 127 at-bats this year.

It was just the fourth homer of the season for Carpenter, who was activated off the IL earlier today. Carpenter replaced Victor Scott in the eighth inning and turned on a high 96 MPH fastball from Brewers reliever Nick Mears, rocketing it 390 feet into the right field stands to cut the Brewers’ lead to 3-2. Carpenter has homered twice since the All-Star break but hasn’t offered any offensive upside all season. He remains well off the fantasy radar.

Carpenter missed the minimum with his back strain that might or might not have been a real injury. He’s hit .255/.331/.382 in 125 plate appearances for the Cardinals this season, and he’ll probably go back to starting once or twice a week against righties.