The New York Yankees continued their offseason roster overhaul Saturday, agreeing to terms with 2022 National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year, $12.5 million contract.
Jack Curry of the YES Network was first to report the news.
Paul Goldschmidt will sign a 1-year deal with the Yankees. The 37-year old has won 4 Gold Gloves and was the 2022 MVP. While he had a .716 OPS with 22 HRs & 65 RBI last year, he had solid numbers vs LHP and also performed better in the second half. Savvy, short-term signing.
— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) December 21, 2024Goldschmidt, a 37-year old first baseman, has won four Gold Glove awards in his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals. He had a .716 OPS with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs in 2024 — a down year by his standards — but could be an asset against left-handed pitching in The Bronx.
The Yankees traded for Chicago Cubs outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger earlier this week, and the signing of Goldschmidt suggests the Yankees view Bellinger's future in the outfield. They also have the option of platooning Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, with Goldschmidt if the two continue to struggle.
However, as noted by Kiley McDaniel of ESPN, Goldschmidt's expected weighted on-base percentage of .333 outpaced his actual wOBA of .310, suggesting he was the victim of some bad luck in 2024. Goldschmidt also improved his strikeout rate in the second half of last season, a trend the Yankees hope will carry over into 2025.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees continued to focus on adding a first baseman even after trading for Bellinger.
New York "had also explored extensive talks with Christian Walker before he signed with Houston, and also talked to representatives for Carlos Santana, but focused on Goldschmidt in recent days," Nightengale wrote on Twitter/X.
The Yankees had also explored extensive talks with Christian Walker before he signed with Houston, and also talked to representatives for Carlos Santana, but focused on Goldschmidt in recent days.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 21, 2024Goldschmidt, 37, is a potential Hall of Fame talent if he is able to rebound from his 2024 season. In 14 major league seasons (2011-24) he's hit 362 home runs, driven in 1,187 runs, and batted .289.
A seven-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Goldschmidt was traded from Arizona to St. Louis in Dec. 2018 for Carson Kelly, Luke Weaver, Andrew Young and a draft pick.
More news: Yankees Make Trade, Ship Catcher to Cincinnati
The Yankees lost the most expensive free agent sweepstakes ever when Juan Soto turned down their 16-year, $760 million offer for a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets.
Ever since, the Yankees have been as aggressive as any team in reshaping their roster for 2025. They signed left-handed pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract, traded for Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams, acquired Bellinger from the Cubs, and on Friday shipped backup catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Alex Jackson and right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz.
New York also re-signed reliever Jonathan Loaisiga and traded catcher Carlos Narvaez to Boston for pitcher Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and future considerations.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
English (US) ·