Yankees, 1B Paul Goldschmidt reach $12.5M deal, sources say

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a one-year, $12.5 million contract, sources told ESPN, pairing the former National League MVP and seven-time All-Star with the American League champion in the midst of a significant overhaul.

Goldschmidt, 37, has been among the most consistent hitters of his generation. He combines power and patience, hitting .289/.381/.510 with 362 home runs over a 14-year career. His four Gold Gloves were earned through a deftness at first, and between his time in Arizona and St. Louis, Goldschmidt was a beloved figure.

In his first foray into free agency, Goldschmidt chose to join a Yankees team that is redoubling its championship efforts after losing star right fielder Juan Soto to the New York Mets. The Yankees started by signing left-hander Max Fried, followed with trades for closer Devin Williams and outfielder Cody Bellinger, and dipped back into the free-agent market to lengthen their lineup with Goldschmidt.

Additionally, he’s expected to help in the clubhouse, replacing first baseman Anthony Rizzo, a veteran leader. Goldschmidt’s professional approach revealed itself early in his career, when he turned from an eighth-round pick out of Texas State to a two-time MVP runner-up with the Diamondbacks and the 2022 NL MVP with the Cardinals.

Goldschmidt followed that season up with a solid 2023 but regressed last year, hitting .245/.302/.414 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs in 154 games.

The deal, which is pending a physical and was first reported by YES Network, is a bet that a player of Goldschmidt’s caliber can thrive in a Yankees lineup that also includes Bellinger, two-time MVP Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe and rookie Jasson Dominguez.