AP/New York The New York Yankees and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt signed a $12.5 million, one-year contract on Monday.
On December 21, Goldschmidt’s contract was agreed to, provided that a successful physical was conducted.
After left-hander Max Fried, closer Devin Williams, and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger, he became the Yankees’ fourth major addition since Juan Soto left for the New York Mets. Goldschmidt’s arrival probably means Bellinger will play outfield most of the time.
Along with fellow Yankees MVPs Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Bellinger, the right-handed Goldschmidt is a seven-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and the 2022 NL MVP. After signing a five-year, $130 million contract with St. Louis, Goldschmidt was free to sign with any team.
He slumped to a career low with the Cardinals during his final six seasons after spending his first eight with Arizona.With 22 home runs and 65 RBIs, he had a 245 batting average the previous season. Late in the season, he turned things around, hitting.283 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs starting on July 28.
In 167 plate appearances against left-handers this season, Goldschmidt hit.295 with five home runs, 16 RBIs, and an OPS of.839; in 487 plate appearances against righties, he hit.230 with 17 home runs, 49 RBIs, and an OPS of.675.
With 362 home runs and 1,187 RBIs, he boasts a career batting average of .289, having played for the Diamondbacks from 2011 to 2018 and the Cardinals from 2019 to 2024. In the 2022 season, Goldschmidt hit .317 with 35 home runs, 115 RBIs, and a .981 OPS.
New York’s 40-man roster currently lacks left-handed relievers, and the team may still be in the market for a third baseman.
If trade talks pick up steam, the Yankees are expected to land a $427 million superstar.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Toronto Blue Jays’ standout first baseman, might not agree to a contract extension. The teenage slugger recently witnessed Juan Soto sign a contract for around $800 million, and Guerrero’s contract expires at the end of the 2025 season. Given how high Soto has set the market, Guerrero is unlikely to sign an extension. Toronto might look into dealing for the superstar slugger if he declines to sign an agreement with the Blue Jays.
The top five suitors for the Blue Jays’ first baseman were recently compiled by FanSided’s Christopher Kline. Unexpectedly, Kline ranked the New York Yankees second, favoring them.
“This would be the most amusing outcome, especially since Guerrero once stated he wanted to ‘kill’ the Yankees and would never play for the Bronx Bombers due to a family feud,” Kline remarked. “It wasn’t too long ago—just a little over a year. However, Guerrero seems to have had a change of heart, perhaps foreseeing this exact situation.”
“The Yankees have a lot of star power behind Judge and are desperate to replace Soto’s bat. As with Soto, Guerrero is both incredibly young and incredibly successful. He is literally the finest alternative.
Even though the Yankees would be thrilled to get Guerrero, a trade would never be possible. The Blue Jays would not be prepared to trade their budding star to a bitter rival like New York, to start with. New York lacks the prospect capital necessary to execute a trade, even if they were prepared to send Guerrero to the Yankees.
As much as the Yankees would like it to happen, this is simply not a viable option. He won’t be acquired by New York before next winter, when he is available for free agency.
