The New York Yankees decided against exercising Anthony Rizzo's 2025 club option. This leaves a hole at first base that needs to be filled. While Pete Alonso is the most expensive option available via free agency, there are other more affordable players on the open market, like Christian Walker and Paul Goldschmidt.
There are also players available via trade, like Chicago Cubs slugger Cody Bellinger. Which could be the preferred route for general manager Brian Cashman and his front office this winter?
First base was a black hole for the Yankees in 2024. According to FanGraphs, New York's collective -1.1 WAR was the fourth-worst mark in baseball. Manager Aaron Boone penciled in five different players to occupy that position. Rizzo played there the most (91 games) and was followed by Ben Rice (46 games) and DJ LeMahieu (29 games). Oswaldo Cabrera was the only one in this group to produce a positive WAR, posting a 0.1 mark in eight games.
Paul Goldschmidt had a disappointing year with the St. Louis Cardinals. But even if he replicated his 2024 production, it'd be a significant boost for the Yankees. He hit .245/.302/.414 with 22 home runs, 33 doubles, 65 RBI and 70 runs scored in 654 plate appearances. FanGraphs valued his performance at 1.1 WAR.
MLB Trade Rumors is predicting the four-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2023 National League MVP will land a one-year, $15 million contract in free agency. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter projects Goldschmidt will land in the Bronx and hit fourth behind Jazz Chisholm Jr., Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
Signing Goldschmidt to a one-year deal would give the Yankees financial flexibility to continue adding to their 2025 roster without having to worry about future payroll commitments.
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