The New York Yankees entered the offseason with a gap at first base. They attempted to sign Christian Walker, but the deal fell apart, and he ultimately joined the Houston Astros. Although they traded for Cody Bellinger, their plan is to use him in the outfield, keeping first base as a major priority.
The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt before top options came off the board
The Yankees opted for the more affordable veteran, Paul Goldschmidt, who could prove to be a valuable signing after securing a one-year, $12.5 million contract with New York. This move triggered a domino effect, as top first base targets were quickly signed or traded, with Carlos Santana joining the Guardians on a one-year deal, Josh Naylor being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Nathaniel Lowe moving to the Washington Nationals.
The Yankees had been targeting some of the top first base options before signing Goldschmidt, and they may have landed the best one at a reasonable cost.
At 37 years old, Goldschmidt is an aging veteran, but he has demonstrated that he can still be a solid middle-of-the-order hitter. Although he had a subpar season with the Cardinals last year, he bounced back in the second half, posting a .271 batting average 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 also provides an immediate upgrade at first base compared to what the Yankees had last season. The combination of Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, Ben Rice, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Jon Berti contributed very little offensively at the position. Goldschmidt, on the other hand, instantly strengthens their lineup with a more potent offensive presence at first base.
While signing an older player past his prime carries significant risk, the Yankees have carefully evaluated the most realistic options, securing upgrades over last season’s production.
The Yankees are likely not finished adding bats, as they still have a gap in the infield. They’ve shown strong interest in signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, and Nolan Arenado is also a trade target.
After a brief lull in the market, activity has picked up again as the year ends. How the Yankees will address their remaining needs throughout the rest of the offseason remains to be seen.
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