Carpenter agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Cardinals on Wednesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The deal includes a third-year vesting option.

EDGE Analysis

The exact amount of the deal remains unknown. Carpenter was in the final guaranteed year of his contract but will now remain with the Cardinals through the 2021 campaign. The 33-year-old is coming off an impressive 2018 season that saw him slash .257/.374/.523 with 36 homers and 81 RBI in 156 games.

Carpenter, who went 1-for-4 with a run in a win over the Dodgers on Monday, has hit safely in five straight games.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran infielder has laced three of his four doubles on the season during that stretch as well, although he's hasn't posted a multi-hit effort since March 31. Carpenter's power has yet to emerge in the new season after he blasted a career-high 36 home runs last season, but he was a slow starter on that front in 2018 as well. Carpenter only had two round trippers through the end of April before launching 34 from May through August.

Carpenter went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and a walk Sunday against Milwaukee.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter doubled to right field in the first inning but was stranded following three straight strikeouts by his teammates. He would later extend the Cardinals' lead to two runs in the fifth inning with a solo blast to center. The veteran third baseman finishes the first series of the 2019 campaign 4-for-16 with two extra-base hits and three runs scored (four games).

Carpenter went 2-for-5 with an RBI single, a walk and two runs in a win over the Brewers on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter had gone hitless in his season debut Thursday, but he was an effective table setter at the top of the lineup in Friday's victory. The veteran infielder came home on the first of Paul Goldschmidt's three home runs in the first inning, and he later plated Kolten Wong with a timely seventh-inning single. Carpenter expects to see plenty of quality pitches this season with Goldschmidt hitting directly behind him, a notion only further enforced by the latter's explosive performance Friday.

Carpenter (back) went 0-for-4 in a season-opening loss to the Brewers on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter was true to his word about being ready to roll for Opening Day after a back injury limited him to 23 at-bats in Grapefruit League play. The veteran was back in his customary leadoff spot, one in which he slashed .264/.380/.539 with 60 extra-base hits (30 doubles, 30 home runs) and 60 RBI last season over 436 at-bats. Carpenter will look to avoid the type of slump that sunk his first full month of the season in 2018 (.145 average in April), which should be a bit easier to accomplish with Paul Goldschmidt now hitting behind him in the No. 2 hole.

Carpenter (back) participated in the team's full workout at Miller Park in Milwaukee on Wednesday and declared himself "one hunded percent" for Thursday's opener, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter spent the early part of the week piling up at-bats at minor-league camp in order to get his timing as sharp as possible prior to Thursday's opener. Carpenter logged only 23 Grapefruit League at-bats due to his back issues, but he's fully expected to start at third base in the opener of the four-game set against the Brewers.

Carpenter (back), who struck out in his only at-bat during a Grapefruit League win over the Marlins on Sunday, will lead off in every inning during a game at minor-league camp Monday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The goal is to get Carpenter as many reps at the plate as possible before Thursday's season opener versus the Brewers, considering he missed the last week of Grapefruit League action due to his back issue. In addition to the work he'll get Monday, Carpenter is also set to face Luke Gregerson in a simulated game Tuesday prior to joining his teammates in Milwaukee.

Carpenter (back) will hit leadoff and start at third base in Sunday's Grapefruit League finale against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

It appeared earlier Sunday that Carpenter was out of the lineup for the spring finale, but it turns out he will return to action after missing the last week. The 33-year-old has been battling a tight back, but his return to the field Sunday should alleviate concerns about his status for Opening Day.

Carpenter (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League finale.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals announced earlier in the week that Carpenter would not return to the lineup before Sunday, but it turns out he will not be able to take the field Sunday, either. He will have one more chance to see action before the regular season begins with the Cardinals still playing an exhibition game Monday in Memphis, but the club has not revealed its plan of action, and at this point, Carpenter is less than certain to be ready for Opening Day.

Carpenter (back) won't return to the lineup before Sunday against the Marlins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carpenter has been out since last Sunday with a sore back. It's concerning that he remains out of the lineup so soon before Opening Day, though the Cardinals don't appear worried that he'll miss an extended period.