Veteran $12.5 Million Veteran Will Leave the Yankees in a Better Spot

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 21, 2025 12:37 PM ET

Paul Goldschmidt i s making Brian Cashman look like a genius. The Yankees did not listen to the conventional wisdom and go out and sign a long-term deal with a first baseman last winter. They passed on Christian Walker, who is struggling with Houston, and Pete Alonzo, whose defense will probably put him in the designated hitter spot sooner rather than later.

Goldschmidt on a $12.5 million deal was the smart move. The Yankees are benefitting from his rebound season at the plate and his plus-defense now.

And the Yankees can let him walk away at the end of the year and give the playing time at first to Ben Rice next year.

Former MLB general manager and current analyst for The Athletic, Jim Bowden, thinks that Goldschmidt will get another contract after this season, but it won’t be with the Yankees.

“He’s at an age where he’s probably going to have to sign one-year contracts,” Bowden wrote. “It’s unlikely he returns to the Yankees in 2026 due to the emergence of Ben Rice.”

Rice, the 25-year-old slugger pulling DH duty, is slashing .259/.352/.552 with 10 homers in a breakout campaign. The only thing holding him back from full-time first base reps at this point is Goldschmidt.

When Giancarlo Stanton returns, Rice’s role as DH gets complicated. If the Yankees are serious about developing him as the long-term answer at first base, then Goldschmidt’s time in the Bronx will be over at the end of the year.

But, right now, Aaron Boone has the enviable problem of trying to get several productive bats in the lineup.

Through 195 plate appearances, the 37-year-old Goldschmidt is hitting .339, with a .392 on-base percentage, and .486 slugging percentage. He has an impressive .878 OPS. His 117 wRC+ means he's been 17% better than the league-average hitter, a significant rebound from his 2024 season.

Goldschmidt is particularly effective against lefties. He's batting .600 with an OPS exceeding 1.700 against southpaws, resulting from a shift in his hitting approach. He's increased his opposite-field fly balls and flare/burner hits, leading to a career-high 36.4% in the latter category.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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