When the New York Yankees signed veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt this winter, they imagined him playing more like his 2022 MVP self. So far, he has lived up to and perhaps even exceeded that expectation. After going 2-for-5 and scoring two runs in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, Goldschmidt is now slashing .352/.397/.465 with six extra-base hits and 10 runs scored. Last season, first base was far and away the Yanks’ biggest weakness in the lineup, so finally having some solid production at first has been crucial for this injury-battered team. If Goldschmidt continues to slash like this throughout the season, he could even earn himself another chance to stay in the Bronx for a little longer.
First Baseman Paul Goldschmidt Returning to Form for Yankees
Still Slashing at 37
After a down year (at least by his standards) with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024, there were questions concerning whether Goldschmidt was finally slowing down, or if the start of last season was just a blip on his impressive ledger. Despite his production dipping over the past two seasons, the 37-year-old proved that he could still hit towards the end of ’24. Over 62 games in the second half, he posted a slash line of .271/.319/.480 with nine homers and 28 RBI, compared to 13 homers and a .664 OPS over his first 92 games.
Even at 37, an age at which most players begin to decline rather rapidly, Goldschmidt is showing that he’s not quite done yet. There have been plenty of hitters who have been extremely productive into their late 30s and even early 40s, such as the likes of Nelson Cruz and David Ortiz, who hit 32 and 38 homers in their age-40 seasons, respectively. It appears that the best hitters are still able to produce in the twilight of their careers, and Goldschmidt appears to be no exception.
Paul Goldschmidt has already picked up his 22nd hit of the year in just 16 games.
Last season, it took Goldschmidt 29 games to pick up his 22nd hit of the year. pic.twitter.com/arCIwV0z3h
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) April 15, 2025
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Core Piece at First
It’s not just his hitting that the Yankees are grateful for, however. Not only is Goldschmidt a four-time Gold Glove winner, but he has become an essential part of New York’s locker room. According MLB.com’s Mike Lupica, the team’s captain, Aaron Judge, said of Goldschmidt: “[Goldschmidt] has been a huge piece for us.” Manager Aaron Boone shared a similar sentiment, remarking, “This guy is probably on his way to the Hall of Fame, and he’s dripping in humility,” he said last week. “His message is, ‘I want to hit here, I want to play here.’ ” Boone also added, “He’s going to play well for us between the lines, but is going to elevate our room, too.” On a team with plenty of young players, having a veteran leader like Goldschmidt who also provides on offense will be a huge plus throughout the entire season for the Yanks.
A Future in the Bronx?
If Goldschmidt sustains this level of success in 2025, the Yankees would be crazy if they didn’t consider bringing him back, at least for another year. Age is an important factor, of course, but at the same time, the Yankees don’t have an excess of first basemen. Ben Rice, of course, immediately comes to mind, especially since he may not have anywhere to play when Giancarlo Stanton returns to the lineup. However, situations like this usually resolve themselves when the team is playing well, and it may end up resulting in Goldschmidt playing more than just a lone season in the Bronx.
Photo Credit: © Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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