MLB Rumors: Chris Carpenter Open for a Trade?

Is this the smartest move for the St. Louis Cardinals to make?

Moving Carpenter throughout the league would open up viable cap room ($15 million), but his contract expires this year, meaning if he hit the dirt, they would just not re-sign him.

The issue now is that pitcher Adam Wainwright will be out for entire season due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. If the Cards want to make any sort of attempt at a playoff run, then getting rid of their ace wouldn't be the best hand they could deal out. 

Still, though, that extra $15 million in their pocket would allow the Cardinals to have the extra cash that they want to re-sign league standout Albert Pujols.

It's not that Chris Carpenter openly said, "I want to get the hell out of St. Louis," or anything—he's open to the fact that if St. Louis wants to market him to other teams, he's up for the ride. 

"It's not up to me," said Carpenter via Mike Axisa at www.mlbtraderumors.com. "If the Cardinals wanted to trade me, obviously I would go. There's no question about that. I'm not going hold back or veto or do anything like that if they're looking to move me."

If the Cardinals were smart they would hold onto one of the only pitchers they really have left and then go out and look for another pitcher to bring aboard in replacement of the injured Wainwright. 

We will have a better calculation of the chance that Carpenter is moved come midseason. If the Cardinals seem to have no chance of getting to the Wild Card, let alone the playoffs, you might just see him on a different team come summer time.