2 San Diego Padres players who should not be back in 2024 and 1 who should

San Diego Padres should not bring back Matt Carpenter in 2024

At the time of signing Matt Carpenter last winter, it was somewhat of a no-brainer. A veteran who was coming off a good bounce-back season with the New York Yankees and a veteran presence in a clubhouse that was ready to win now.

It never has really worked out the way Preller and Carpenter have hoped it would.

Giving a two-year, $12 million contract with a player option for 2024. Carpenter has struggled mightily this season and recently went through a stretch where he did not get an at-bat from July 24 through August 14. In his only at-bat during that stretch, he struck out against Mike Baumann of the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning of a 10-3 Padres win.

Hoping to split DH at-bats with Nelson Cruz, who was DFA'd in July, Carpenter has not been able to find consistency in the lineup for Melvin. Never mind defensively, offensively it has been a struggle for the former St. Louis Cardinals icon. He's not the same player he was and is clearly at the end of his career and San Diego needs to cut ties with him before 2024 and move on.