The Yankees have had a particular week within the Bronx, naming Aaron Decide the sixteenth captain in franchise historical past earlier than formally welcoming Carlos Rodón to the group.

New York additionally watched a beloved member of this yr’s squad discover a new residence in free company.

Matt Carpenter agreed to a one-year take care of the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, a contract that features a participant possibility for the 2024 season. 

Carpenter, 37, revitalized his MLB profession in 2022, capitalizing on a possibility with the Yankees to seize the eye of all the baseball world. The slugger hit 15 residence runs in 47 video games, remodeling right into a cult hero along with his silky-smooth swing from the left aspect and his bushy mustache. All of that got here after Carpenter’s 11-year tenure with the Cardinals got here to a conclusion and the getting older lefty was launched by the Rangers‘ Triple-A affiliate. 

The magic wore off when Carpenter fouled a pitch off his foot in Seattle in August, an harm that ended his common season. He did not return till the playoffs the place he could not recapture his stroke, hitting .083 (1-for-12) with 9 strikeouts in six postseason video games. 

Even along with his unforgettable efficiency in pinstripes, Carpenter was removed from a lock to return this winter. With prospects knocking on the door and different strikes approaching the open market, Carpenter’s departure was all the time the likeliest final result. 

That does not make this information sting any much less for supervisor Aaron Boone, although. 

“I wouldn’t have dominated out [Carpenter returning] relying on how issues shake out, however, man, I want him properly,” Boone informed reporters, like Randy Miller of NJ.com. “Clearly what he did between the strains. I feel he caught everybody without warning and was so impactful. He was nice within the room, too. He was only a actually good teammate. Nice professional. We’ll miss him.”

Boone added that Carpenter’s run with the Yankees in 2022 was outstanding, each on and off the sector.

“There was simply right through it a selflessness about him that I feel rubbed off on everybody,” Boone mentioned, per Miller. “He touched lots of people within the group simply with who he was and his professionalism.”

Carpenter was emotional about saying goodbye to the Yankees as properly, scripting this heartfelt put up on social media shortly after signing with San Diego:

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