St. Louis Cardinals Matt Carpenter watches his two run home run leave the park in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 10, 2013.  UPI/Bill Greenblatt

St. Louis Cardinals Matt Carpenter watches his two run home run leave the park in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 10, 2013. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Matt Carpenter has a new $52 million, six-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.   The Cardinals are hoping they have their third baseman of the future.

The new deal includes a team option for a seventh year in 2020 at $18.5 million. Should St. Louis decline the option, it would pay Carpenter a $2 million buyout.

The 28-year-old picked up a $1 million signing bonus and he’ll make $1.5 million this season. The salary escalates each year, reaching $14.5 million in 2019.
Carpenter hit .318 while leading the National League in hits (199), doubles (55) and runs (126) last season and playing mostly second base. He is moving back to third this season, where he has played most of his professional career.