The Cardinals and Carlson (ankle) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.35 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carlson was arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 25-year-old had a second straight injury-shortened, disappointing season in 2023 which ended with ankle surgery. Carlson should be at or close to 100 percent for spring training and is slated to operate as a fourth outfielder in St. Louis.