The New York Yankees are actively seeking a solution for their first base position, with former MVP Paul Goldschmidt emerging as a leading candidate.
Following their acquisition of left-handed starter Max Fried on a $218 million contract and trades for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams, the Yankees are still eyeing additional moves.
Max Fried recently explained his decision to join the Yankees, and the possibility of adding Goldschmidt to the team is gaining traction. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported on Saturday that Goldschmidt is expected to make a decision soon.
Heyman also revealed that the Yankees are once again competing with the New York Mets for Goldschmidt’s services, after the Yankees successfully convinced 26-year-old Juan Soto to leave the Bronx for a $765 million deal. Other potential suitors for Goldschmidt include the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners, with Goldschmidt reportedly seeking a short-term contract.
The 2022 National League MVP, Goldschmidt had a down year in 2023, posting career-low numbers with a .245/.302/.414 slash line, 22 home runs (excluding 2020), and a 98 OPS+. However, his second half of the 2024 season showed significant improvement, as he posted a .799 OPS compared to a .664 OPS in the first half.
While Goldschmidt is no longer the Gold Glove-caliber defender he once was, his defensive metrics, such as Statcast’s Outs Above Average (OAA), ranked in the middle of the pack, which would still represent an upgrade for the Yankees’ first base situation.
Should they land Goldschmidt, the Yankees could give Ben Rice the opportunity to platoon and develop at the position.
Nevertheless, the Yankees will face strong competition for the former MVP’s signature.
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