The New York Yankees and veteran infielder Paul Goldschmidt have agreed to a one-year deal, bringing the 38-year-old back for a second season in the Bronx.
Goldschmidt appeared in 146 games for the Yankees last season, primarily playing first base. At the plate, he hit .274 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI. He struggled on defense, posting an outs-above-average of negative three and a fielding run value of negative two.
Goldschmidt got off to a blazing hot start in 2025. In April, Goldschmidt hit .349 with an OPS of .835. He followed that up with a .315 batting average in May and a .904 OPS. In June, however, Goldschmidt hit a rough patch he never fully recovered from. For the month, he hit .143 with 22 strikeouts in 23 games. He did come through in the postseason, collecting four hits and a walk in nine at-bats.
Goldschmidt’s Role in 2026
Goldschmidt will not be the Yankees’ starting first baseman in 2026, as Ben Rice will hold down that position following a breakout sophomore season. The 26-year-old mashed 26 home runs in his second season, posting an .836 OPS that ranked 29th in baseball. However, his numbers against righties were vastly different than lefties. While Rice hit .269 against right-handed pitchers, he hit .208 against left-handed pitchers.
Enter Goldschmidt.
In 2025, Goldschmidt hit .336 against lefties and .247 against righties. This means Goldschmidt will likely only see the field when platooned with Rice, especially considering the fact that he turns 39 next season.
Where It All Began
An eighth-round pick in 2009 from Texas State, Goldschmidt made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011. In 48 games, he hit .250 with an .808 OPS and 26 RBI.
In his sophomore season, Goldschmidt broke out with 20 home runs, 82 RBI, and an .850 OPS. The following year, he won his first of five Silver Sluggers, four Gold Gloves, and two Hank Aaron Awards.
After the 2018 season, the Diamondbacks traded Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick. He finished his career in Arizona as arguably the greatest hitter in franchise history, ranking first in WAR, OBP%, SLG%, OPS, and OPS+, among other statistics.
In six seasons for the Cardinals, Goldschmidt enjoyed continued success, most notably in 2022. That season, Goldschmidt won his first and only MVP award, while also making the All-MLB First Team. He also won a Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Award that season.
Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees before the 2025 season. The exact terms of his deal for 2026 have not been finalized yet.
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