Yankees finalize Paul Goldschmidt contract (and avoid fans’ worst fears)

Eric Cole

St. Louis Cardinals v Toronto Blue Jays / Kevin Sousa/GettyImages

The New York Yankees have wasted little time after coming up short in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. The team quickly pivoted by signing Max Fried to give the Yankees a frontline starter, traded for one of the best closers (when healthy) in baseball in Devin Williams, and then filled their need for a power outfield bat by acquiring Cody Bellinger among other, lesser moves this offseason to shape the roster. The main box that they still had failed to check thus far was first base.

The fear for most Yankee fans with regards to first base now that Anthony Rizzo has mercifully moved on was that New York would let that market progress too quickly given the number of teams in need of a quality 1B. They had been connected to varying degrees to guys like Pete Alonso and Christian Walker all offseason, but Walker ended up going to the Astros and Alonso seems hellbent on commanding dollars he probably isn't worth.

Well, the Yankees seem to have settled on a solution for 2025 at least as they have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former MVP Paul Goldschmidt.

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a one-year, $12.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Goldschmidt adds a strong veteran bat to deepen the Yankees’ lineup. First on the news was @JackCurryYES.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2024

Yankees and Paul Goldschmidt agree to a one-year deal to fill void at first base

Yes, Goldschmidt's 2024 season was not good by nearly any measure as his .716 OPS with the Cardinals was the lowest of his career by a considerable margin and the 37 year-old certainly looked like all of the miles on his body caught up with him. However, Goldschmidt is just a couple years removed from winning NL MVP and still makes loud contact even at his age even if his contact skills aren't what they used to be.

Will Goldschmidt be a star next season? The odds are pretty bad that will happen at his age. However, the Yankees don't need him to be. They just need a steady offensive threat at first base who can defend well while deepening their lineup. Goldschmidt absolutely should still be able to be that guy and on a one year, $12.5 million deal, there is little risk for New York in getting this done and is a worthy gamble on a generational talent albeit another aging one.

Before today's development, there were rumors swirling that Goldschmidt was looking for a multi-year deal which was obviously pretty optimistic on his end. It sure looks like he saw reason and realized that landing with the Yankees who could help him make another deep postseason run was the best offer he was going to get at this stage of his career.

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Eric Cole

I started my career writing about baseball covering the Atlanta Braves for SB Nation's Talking Chop back in 2015 which has since been renamed Battery Power. After years of writing for those fine folks, I made the decision to take over as Site Expert at House That Hank Built before becoming a full-time MLB Staff Writer for FanSided in 2023. Along the way, I have been a guest on multiple ESPN radio affiliates as well as 680 The Fan and 92.9 The Game to discuss Braves baseball and especially Braves prospects and was a long-time host on the Battery Power podcast. These days, I continue to write about the Braves as well as covering the Astros, Padres, and Angels with particular expertise with minor league coverage, the MLB Draft, and bashing Anthony Rendon when possible. When I am not writing about or talking about baseball (which is seldom), I am an avid baseball card collector (Maddux and Soroka being my primary personal collections) and I also collect shark teeth. All other sports are mostly dead to me as my Bills have broken my heart too many times.