ST. LOUIS  — Matt Carpenter is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Friday to a one-year contract with his team from 2011-21.

Carpenter agreed to a deal for the $740,000 major league minimum, which will be offset against his guaranteed $5.5 million salary as part of a $12 million, two-year contract he signed with San Diego in December 2022.

"I feel like I'm coming home to a great family and I'm really looking forward to this year," Carpenter told reporters Friday afternoon. "The opportunity to put this uniform on again was a no-brainer."

"When you think of players that helped shape our success in the 2000s, Matt Carpenter’s name is one that is synonymous with winning,” Cardinals president of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said in a statement. “Matt showed from the very beginning of his career how hard work and determination can lead to success, and we are excited to have his leadership and experience back in a Cardinals uniform.”

A first baseman and occassional outfielder, Carpenter was traded to Atlanta last month along with $1.5 million, then released by the Braves three days later. In effect, Carpenter costs the Braves $3.26 million, the Padres $1.5 million and the Cardinals $740,000. 

Mozeliak told reporters that discussions with Carpenter on a possible return to St. Louis started on Dec. 18, the day he was released by the Braves. 

Mozeliak did not specify how much of an on-field role Carpenter will have, beyond indicating he should show up with "multiple gloves". Carpenter saw most of his action in the field as a Cardinal at first, second and third base before he left the organization as a free agent after the 2021 season.

While the 2023 club had veterans like first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Nolan Arenado, Mozeliak said the retirements of Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols after the 2022 season left a void.

"We were missing some voices in that clubhouse," he said.

Carpenter sounded ready to embrace the role of veteran leader.

"Playing in St. Louis is such a privilege but there’s certainly an expectation and some pressures that go with it. This is a tremendous franchise that has won for many years and expects to win every year and I remember as a young player, 0-3 year player, that can be overwhelming. I was so lucky early on in my career to have such a great veteran group of guys that kind of took me under their wing and I think what I’m most looking forward to is now having that opportunity to be that guy and then do it for some of these young guys and kind of walk them through it, the Masyn Winns, the Jordan Walkers."

"My mentality is I’m entitled to nothing and grateful for everything that I get as far as an opportunity to play and I’ll be ready when my name’s called," Carpenter said. 

In the offseason, the team brought Molina back as a special assistant, added former Cardinal infielder Daniel Descalso as a bench coach and also reunited with pitcher Lance Lynn, in an attempt to bring back veteran voices with links to the franchise's postseason success dating back to the turn of the century.

Carpenter said it will be a surreal feeling for him when he's on the bench, sitting next to Descalso, when Lynn takes the mound for the first time. Lynn, he said, will get a "big old hug" the first time they see eachother.

Carpenter was an All-Star in 2013, ’14 and ’16. He has .260 career average with 175 homers and 644 RBIs for the Cardinals, Yankees and Padres. He hit .176 with five homers and 31 RBIs but had just 50 at-bats from July 1 on. Carpenter didn’t play after Sept. 10 because of right elbow inflammation.

Mozeliak said the organization was encouraged by Carpenter's offseason hitting workouts with former Cardinal outfielder Matt Holliday, who Carpenter credits for the success he found with the Yankees when Carpenter hit .305 with 15 home runs in 47 games in 2022. 

Carpenter's addition, which came after the club sent pitcher James Naile to the KIA Tigers of the Korean Baseball League last night, has the 40-man roster at capacity. Mozeliak said the club was still looking at possible roster additions ahead of spring training next month.