The Yankees have signed former MVP Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year deal, enhancing their lineup for the upcoming season
New York: The Yankees were eyeing Christian Walker to fill their first base gap, but he signed with the Astros for three years and $60 million. So, they quickly turned to Paul Goldschmidt.
According to Jeff Passan from ESPN, Goldschmidt is joining the Yankees on a one-year deal worth $12.5 million after leaving the Cardinals.
Now, let’s chat about what the Yankees are getting with Goldschmidt and if he’s still a solid fantasy pick.
Goldschmidt has been a powerhouse hitter for years, but 2024 was a rough season for him. He ended up with a .245 batting average, which is pretty low for a guy with his track record. His OPS was also the worst of his career at .716, which is a big drop from his usual numbers.
So, what went wrong? Well, he usually walks a lot, but last year he only managed 47 walks in 654 plate appearances. That’s a walk rate of just 7.2%, which isn’t great. Plus, he struck out 26.5% of the time, which is pretty high.
Goldschmidt struggled especially against slower pitches like sweepers and change-ups. His average against those pitches was pretty dismal, which is unusual for him.
But here’s the good news: there’s still hope for a comeback. When he did make contact, he hit the ball hard. He was in the top tier for hard-hit balls, and his exit velocity was impressive. So, it doesn’t seem like he’s lost his skills just yet.
Interestingly, he performed better in the second half of the season. After a rough start, he improved his numbers significantly, which is a good sign moving forward.
Plus, he still has some speed. He stole 11 bases last season without getting caught, which is a nice bonus for a first baseman.
As for where he’ll fit in the Yankees’ lineup, he’s likely to play every day. He might hit in the middle of the order against lefties, but could drop down against righties. That’s something to keep an eye on for fantasy purposes.
So, are you betting on Goldschmidt bouncing back? I think he can do better than last year, though maybe not back to his MVP form. He’s still capable of being a top 8-12 first baseman in 2025, especially with the right lineup around him.