The St. Louis Cardinals are in the process of bolstering their current roster as they aim to perform far better than their last-place finish in the National League Central a year ago.
While the focus should remain on the present, their are some matters beyond the 2024 season that need to be addressed in due time, including the contract status of their most-recent MVP winner.
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is entering the final year of his lucrative deal and will need a new contract to remain in St. Louis. Fortunately, there is some speculation that an agreement could eventually come together.
"Of (next year's free-agent class), (José) Altuve seems likely to sign an extension before hitting the open market. Two non-Boras clients, Zack Wheeler and Paul Goldschmidt, also are good bets to stay with their current clubs," The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote Sunday.
Goldschmidt hit .268 with 56 extra-base hits including 25 home runs, 80 RBIs and an .810 OPS (120 OPS+) in 154 games last season.
The 36-year-old did not play up to his reigning MVP standard -- posting a National League-leading .981 OPS (177 OPS+) in 2022. However, he's still a well-above-average slugger with four Gold Gloves in his troply case.
While St. Louis very well could be interested in an extension, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said that he wants to see the season start to play out before extending the future Hall of Famer.
A Goldschmidt extension appears to be a possibility down the line but is far from imminent.
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