The New York Yankees continue to reshape their roster, recently adding veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year deal, as reported by the YES Network's Jack Curry.
Goldschmidt, a seasoned player at 37, joins the Yankees after a six-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals, highlighted by his National League MVP award in 2022. While his 2024 season saw a dip in performance compared to his usual high standards (.245 average, 22 home runs), he showed improved form in the latter part of the year, hitting .273 and demonstrating better on-base skills.
Over his 14-year career, Goldschmidt boasts a .289 batting average, 362 home runs, and 1187 RBIs. His acquisition addresses a key area of weakness for the Yankees, who struggled to find consistent offensive production from their first basemen in the previous season. Both rookie Ben Rice and veteran Anthony Rizzo underperformed, resulting in a combined .619 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) from the position – the lowest in MLB.
Goldschmidt's presence is expected to fortify the Yankees' lineup, even with the departure of Juan Soto to the Mets. This signing is part of a broader strategy by the Yankees, who have also added starting pitcher Max Fried, closer Devin Williams, and outfielder Cody Bellinger. This flurry of acquisitions demonstrates the team's commitment to building a competitive roster.
Goldschmidt joins a formidable lineup that includes fellow MVP award winners Cody Bellinger (2019 NL MVP), Giancarlo Stanton (2017 NL MVP), and Aaron Judge (2022 and 2024 AL MVP). This concentration of talent creates a powerful offensive core for the Yankees as they head into the new season.
