JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – The St. Louis Cardinals and third baseman Matt Carpenter have agreed to a $52 million, six-year contract. The deal includes a team option for a seventh year in 2020 at $18.5 million. Should the St. Louis decline the option, they would pay Carpenter a $2 million buyout.  Carpenter’s agent, Bryan Cahill, says the 28-year-old received 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 says the decision to sign a long-term deal with St. Louis was a “no-brainer.”  He hit .318 while leading the National League in hits (199), doubles (55) and runs (126) last season while playing second base. He is moving to third this season.