Chris Carpenter

With 97 starts in his last three years, Carpenter may have put the "injury prone" label behind him for good. He's not as good as he once was - he gave up more than a hit an inning for the first time since 2002 - but a 3.45 ERA and 191:55 K:BB ratio in 237 innings is nothing to sneeze at. Adam Wainwright is expected to return this year, meaning the burden won't be as great on Carpenter. He might have one or two more 15-win seasons left in him, but keep in mind that he racked up 273.1 innings while helping the Cards to the World Series in 2011.

Is Carpenter still an injury risk? His career-high 35 starts last year seem to indicate that he's not, but considering that he's nearly 36, he'll probably come at a slight discount. He shouldn't. After a 16-9 season, he has now won at least 15 games in each of his last five full seasons, and he's still providing near-elite ERA, WHIP and strikeout totals. If he comes at that discount, make sure you're in the bidding.

After two injury-filled seasons, it looked like the Chris Carpenter we knew and loved was gone. Then came 2009, in which he managed to start 28 games, win 17 of them, and lead the National League in ERA. He'll always be an injury risk, but it looks like the 2004-2006 Carpenter is back. In his last four full seasons, he's 68-22 with a 2.90 ERA, 1.066 WHIP, and 693:170 K:BB ratio in 838 innings.

Carpenter has pitched all of 21.1 innings in the last two seasons. After coming back from 2007 Tommy John surgery last July, Carpenter lasted just three starts before going on the DL with a strained shoulder. He made one relief appearance in September - the Cardinals were making noise about having him close down the stretch - he was shut down. After all that, he had elbow surgery in November, putting the beginning of 2009 in doubt. We all know how good he can be when healthy, but his 2004-2006 seems long ago.

To anyone who paid full price for Carpenter last year: you have our sympathies. After coming into 2007 as arguably the top pitcher in the National League, Carpenter suffered an elbow injury on Opening Day and didn't pitch again, before ultimately having Tommy John surgery in July. Your best bet is to get him cheap and stash him until 2009, as he probably won't pitch in a big league game until August.

Carpenter has put together three fantastic years with St. Louis after coming over from Toronto. In 93 starts for the team, he's 51-18 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. His control continues to improve, climbing to more than four strikeouts for every walk in 2006. The Cardinals signed him to a five-year, $65 million contract extension in December, a bargain when you consider some of the money being thrown out to mediocre pitchers. Expect Carpenter to be an elite starter again in 2007.

Three years removed from shoulder surgery, the big righty won the NL Cy Young. Although a repeat performance in 2006 might be asking a little too much, Carpenter should have solid numbers once again as long as he can stay healthy. His strong 213/51 K/BB ratio shows he's as dominant as his win totals led everyone to believe.

Carpenter is more than back from 2002 shoulder surgery. He's better. Carpenter was the Cardinals' best starter in 2004, leading the team in strikeouts and, among starters, ERA and walks. Late-season arm troubles kept him out of the post-season, something Cardinal fans will not soon forget, but the team felt good enough about Carpenter's recovery to pick up his 2005 option.

Chris Carpenter and Steve Ontiveros have the exact same number of letters in their names.

Carpenter will miss at least the first few months of the season following shoulder surgery. He's worth nothing more than a late round reserve pick right now given his shoulder, though early healthy reports this spring should begin to surface and give us an idea on when he might be back for the Cardinals.