The New York Yankees entered the offseason looking to address their need at first base. They pursued , but a potential deal collapsed before he ultimately signed with the Houston Astros. Although they traded for Cody Bellinger, their plan to use him in the outfield keeps first base as a significant priority.
The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt before top options came off the board
The Yankees opted for the more affordable veteran option in Paul Goldschmidt, who signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal with New York, offering the potential for a strong value signing. Following that move, the first base market quickly shifted, with top targets like Carlos Santana joining the Guardians on a one-year contract, Josh Naylor being traded to the Diamondbacks, and Nathaniel Lowe going to the Nationals.
Before signing Goldschmidt, the Yankees were in the mix for some of those top options, and they may have landed the best deal available at a reasonable price.
Although Goldschmidt is 37 years old and coming off a down season with the Cardinals, he rebounded with a solid second half, hitting .271 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs after the All-Star break.
Goldschmidt is a huge upgrade at first base for the Yankees
The 2022 NL MVP, Paul Goldschmidt, is an immediate upgrade at first base over what the Yankees had last season. The group of Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, Ben Rice, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Jon Berti offered little production at the position, and Goldschmidt provides a much-needed offensive boost.
Although bringing in an aging player past his prime carries some risk, the Yankees have been strategic in pursuing realistic upgrades, ensuring they improve over last year’s performance.
The Yankees are likely not finished adding to their lineup, as there’s still a gap in the infield. They’ve shown strong interest in signing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, and Nolan Arenado is also a potential trade target.
After a brief lull in the market, activity has started to pick up as the year comes to a close. How the Yankees address their remaining needs throughout the offseason remains to be seen.
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