Cards, Carpenter close to a two-year deal

NEW YORK -- Pitcher Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals are closing in on a $21 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations said.

The person spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because negotiations are not yet complete. The agreement will be announced this week.

St. Louis has a $15 million option for next season, of which $2 million is deferred without interest, as part of a $63.5 million, five-year contract agreed to in December 2006. That deal carries a $1 million buyout.

Carpenter is 9-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 30 starts this year and 142-92 with a 3.79 ERA in 14 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cardinals.

The 36-year-old right-hander won the 2005 NL Cy Young Award, then missed most of the 2007 and 2008 seasons due a series of arm injuries.