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Yankees Announce Replacement for Paul Goldschmidt on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Dec 19, 2025 4:54 PM ET

The New York Yankees are entering the 2026 season with significant changes as they look to end their championship drought that dates back to 2009. First base will have a new look with veteran Paul Goldschmidt now a free agent after spending one year in the Bronx, and his return appearing highly unlikely.

The 38-year-old hit .274 with a .328 on-base percentage, a .731 OPS, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs across 489 at-bats, primarily starting against left-handed pitchers due to his platoon advantage.

However, the emergence of Ben Rice last season has made Goldschmidt expendable. Manager Aaron Boone has already indicated that Rice will take over first base duties in 2026 and, unlike last year, will also draw starts against left-handed pitching.

Boone has praised Rice’s elite ability in the batter’s box, noting that his bat is too valuable to limit strictly to favorable matchups.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17)© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

On Friday, Boone announced that Amed Rosario will begin taking reps at first base. Rosario signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Yankees for the 2026 season, and now will attempt to serve as the backup right-handed option at the position.

"Aaron Boone said Amed Rosario is going to work on becoming a 1B option," reported Gary Phillips of New York Daily News Sports.

That role effectively replaces Goldschmidt, who was used in similar fashion down the stretch last year before losing postseason starts to Rice. While Rice is capable of catching as well, the Yankees clearly prefer Austin Wells as their primary option behind the plate.

Aaron Boone said Amed Rosario is going to work on becoming a 1B option. #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) December 19, 2025

Beyond the positional shuffle, the Yankees see Rice as a key piece of the future. His rise in 2025 gave the lineup a spark, with his left-handed power balancing the order and his poise in the postseason proving he can handle pressure.

New York featured the league’s best offense last year, averaging 5.24 runs per game, and Rice played a key part in that success. He owned a .255 batting average, .337 on-base percentage, .836 OPS, 26 home runs and 65 RBIs across 138 games.

Rosario’s addition further strengthens the roster, giving Boone flexibility to rest players while maintaining a right-handed presence at first base.

Together, these changes reflect a broader organizational push to blend youth with experience as New York looks to finally break its championship drought.

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

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