"Veteran righthander Chris Carpenter, who has a prestigious corner locker in the Cardinals' clubhouse, was conducting some inventory the other day.

"I was cleaning my spikes out of my locker ... I got a whole bunch of new spikes that came in ... and I'm thinking, 'I'm going to have to clean everything out,''' said Carpenter.

"Usually, I just throw all my stuff in there for the next year. I'm going to be like everyone else, boxing everything up and taking it in my car."

Carpenter, who first signed with the Cardinals in December 2002, is finishing up a five-year contract extension this year. The club holds an option at $15 million for next year, but the 36-year-old Carpenter might be an economic casualty, especially if slugger Albert Pujols is re-signed to a long-term deal. A more likely development would be a $1 million buyout by the Cardinals and then Carpenter would hit the free-agent market, too.

"So, yeah, it's odd," said Carpenter. "I'd be lying to you if I said that hasn't crossed my mind throughout the year. I've had conversations with my wife about schooling (the Carpenters have two children).

"But it's another distraction you try not to concern yourself with and you move on," said Carpenter, although he made it clear he wanted to not only play here next year but finish his career with the Cardinals."