Livescore
The Yankees are in the market for a first baseman and it seems they have their sights set on Paul Goldschmidt.
Mark Feinsand, Bryan Hoch and John Denton of MLB.com report that the Yankees’ interest in the 2022 NL MVP is “rapidly increasing.” With Christian Walker signing with the Houston Astros for a reported three-year, $60 million deal on Friday, the options for first basemen are dwindling.
Although Pete Alonso is an option, the Yankees are looking for “more inexpensive options” like Carlos Santana and Goldschmidt. However, MLB.com adds that the 37-year-old Goldschmidt is looking for a multi-year deal, which may cause some pause for the Yankees.
Since winning the NL MVP in 2022, Goldschmidt’s offensive production has dropped to career lows. In 154 games last season, Goldschmidt slashed .245/.302/.414 — all career lows — while smashing 22 home runs and driving in 65 RBI, his lowest numbers since 2014.
MLB.com also adds that the Diamondbacks are interested in a reunion with Goldschmidt after Walker’s reported signing. The veteran first baseman played his first eight years in Arizona, amassing six All-Star selections, three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers in that span.
And then there’s an added wrinkle to the potential Goldschmidt-Yankees marriage involving the first baseman’s former teammate in St. Louis.
The Cardinals are looking to trade Nolan Arenado and MLB.com reports Goldschmidt’s addition to the Yankees could influence the veteran third baseman to waive his no-trade clause for the team up in The Bronx.
The Yankees reportedly approached St. Louis earlier in the offseason about a possible deal for Arenado but talks waned once the Cardinals showed no interest in taking on Marcus Stroman’s contract.
Stroman is set to make approximately $18.3 million in 2025 and has a vesting option worth the same amount in 2026 if he pitches 140 innings next season.
Arenado, entering his age-34 season, has three years and $74 million remaining on his deal, but the Rockies — who traded him to St. Louis — is on the hook for $10 million while another $12 million is deferred. That essentially lowers the commitment to Arenado to about $60 million over those three years.
However, Arenado would have to approve any deal. And we saw the third baseman nix a deal with the Astros earlier this week. In that proposed trade, the Cardinals would have paid down an additional $15-20 million, according to MLB.com’s reporting.
Earlier this offseason, Arenado reportedly gave the Cardinals a list of teams he would waive his no-trade clause for. Those teams included the Mets, Angels, Red Sox, Dodgers, Phillies and Padres.
It was also reported that the Yankees felt Arenado was “not a fit” for their roster next season. Circumstances change when needs arise and Arenado would fit well as a Gold Glove third baseman to allow Jazz Chisholm Jr. to return to his natural position at second base.
However, Arenado’s offensive numbers took a dip last season. The eight-time All-Star hit just 16 home runs for the Cardinals in 2024, the fewest since his rookie season in 2013. The troubling power outage also yielded a .719 OPS and 71 RBI, his lowest mark over a full season since 2014.
He was an All-Star in 2023, though, where he slashed .266/.315/.459 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI, so perhaps there’s still some life left in Arenado’s bat and competing for a contending team will bring that out.
If the Yankees were to get Goldschmidt and Arenado, their infield would be set with Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells and Chisholm manning the rest of the diamond.
Read the full article here
Discussion about this post