ESPN news: St. Louis Cardinals MVP player set to sign a blockbuster deal with yankees.
Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are leading the New York Yankees to a fantastic start. The team could still use more depth and output in a few positions, though. First base is one position that could benefit from increased output. Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes that Paul Goldschmidt would be a good addition for the Yankees.
Every MLB trade deadline is unpredictable. Teams that are focused on the future frequently let go of their best players, but those that see a chance to win a World Series will often dump their farm system in order to do so. Although the St. Louis Cardinals have had a lot of success over the past ten years, their performance this season thus far does not point to a postseason run.
The Cardinals may decide to trade away seasoned mainstays like Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado in order to make room for future additions. According to Bowden, the Yankees may “make some sense” by drafting the 2022 National League MVP.
Fit of Goldschmidt with the Yankees
The last six seasons, Goldschmidt was a member of the Cardinals. Although the seven-time All-Star has not performed as well as he has in previous years, he could still be useful to the Yankees in a deal.
Regarding the possibility of adding Goldschmidt, Bowden wrote, “I think it depends on how Goldschmidt performs between now and the trade deadline.” “I would consider it if he demonstrates over the next few months that he would be an improvement over [Anthony] Rizzo or an improvement in a platoon with him. He remains a dominant first base defender, a leader in the clubhouse, and an all-around winner.
Despite being a three-time All-Star, Rizzo had a poor start to the season. He’s making cuts..321/.393/.257 for the year. Even if Goldschmidt is having difficulties in 2024, given his past achievements, it is possible that he will be able to turn things around.
In 47 games this season, Goldschmidt has a.211 batting average and a.594 OPS. Only four home runs have he hit so far this season. Nonetheless, he has improved in his last 12 games. In that time, he had a batting average of.250 and an OPS of.707.
In 2024, Goldschmidt’s hard hit % is 45.4. In actuality, the number is higher than his two All-Star seasons from 2016 and 2018.
Goldschmidt’s Contract and Resume
In addition to his MVP and seven All-Star choices, Goldschmidt has won four Gold Glove Awards and five Silver Sluggers. After this season, the 36-year-old will become a free agent.
Bowden added, “Given that Goldschmidt is a rental and shares Rizzo’s age and decline issues, I wouldn’t overpay for him. He will turn 37 in September.” “But it makes some sense to protect against future injuries and deepen the lineup.”
This season, the Yankees’ first base lineup lacks depth. The only guys who will play first base for the Yankees in 2024 are Rizzo and Oswaldo Cabrera.
Cabrera will get less playing time at third base now that DJ LeMahieu is back, so he might spend more time with Rizzo. However, Cabrera could play a utility role off the bench if Goldschmidt were traded.
In Yankee Stadium, Goldschmidt has found success with the bat despite the limited sample size. After three games, he has a 1.000 OPS, a home run, and a batting average of.385.
