Initial press conferences, particularly in early winter, are occasions brimming with hope and contemplation. That feeling was clear on Thursday during Paul Goldschmidt’s inaugural official statements since inking a one-year, $12.5 million deal to step into the position of the New York Yankees’ first baseman. Goldschmidt voiced assurance that he could be the elusive element the Yankees have been seeking.
At the age of 37, what caliber of player are the Yankees securing in Paul Goldschmidt as they strive to enhance their lineup in light of Juan Soto’s exit to the Mets in free agency?
“I didn’t perform my best at all and, as I mentioned, no excuses. However, I believe that learning from that and undergoing the process of making those alterations, I reached a point in the latter half where I played better. I think I can still perform at a remarkably high level,” stated Paul Goldschmidt.
While Goldschmidt kept his specifics unclear, he noted making modifications to his swing mechanics and strategy at the plate to enhance his swing positioning.
Some favorable outcomes followed, including a .774 OPS from May 12 onwards over 117 games, and an .842 OPS during the last 43 games of the season.
Paul Goldschmidt enhancing the New York Yankees first base
The Yankees faced offensive challenges at first base last season, ranking among the least effective in the league in terms of production. In spite of this deficiency, they persisted and reached the World Series for the first time since 2009, ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite coming from the most demanding season of his career, Goldschmidt is anticipated to deliver a substantial improvement at the position.
New York has also strengthened their squad by acquiring left-handed pitcher Max Fried, closer Devin Williams, and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger.
Goldschmidt enhances an already stellar Yankees roster, merging with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Cody Bellinger to create a team featuring four former MVPs.
He spent the initial eight seasons of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the subsequent six with the St. Louis Cardinals, achieving a career-low batting average of .245 last season, along with 22 homers and 65 RBIs. Nevertheless, he bounced back towards the end of the year, batting .283 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs starting July 28.
Goldschmidt maintains a career batting average of .289, with 362 home runs and 1,187 RBIs throughout his tenure with Arizona (2011-18) and the Cardinals (2019-24). In 2022, he boasted a .317 average with 35 home runs, 115 RBIs, and a .981 OPS, securing the MVP award.
The 37-year-old has played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball and expressed uncertainty regarding how much longer he will continue following this season. Over his career, he has earned $175.5 million in MLB salary, according to Baseball-Reference, not factoring in his earnings for 2025.
Image Source: Keeton Gale / Shutterstock
