The Yankees are turning to a familiar face to shore up their lineup, reportedly finalizing a one-year deal with veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. While the financial details are still under wraps, the move signals New York’s continued effort to tweak a roster that, despite management’s insistence, is starting to look a lot like last year’s version.
Goldschmidt, now well past his MVP-caliber peak, still brings value-especially in a very specific role. Last season, he slashed .277/.328/.403 over 534 plate appearances.
The power numbers weren’t what they once were-10 home runs and 31 doubles-but the veteran showed he can still do damage against left-handed pitching. In 168 plate appearances vs. southpaws, Goldschmidt hit a blistering .336 with a .411 on-base and .570 slugging percentage, adding seven homers and 14 doubles.
That kind of production makes him a natural fit for a platoon scenario.
Enter Ben Rice. The young first baseman/catcher combo showed flashes last season, especially with his pop-seven home runs against lefties-but his overall line against them (.208/.271/.481) left something to be desired.
That’s where Goldschmidt comes in. He offers a right-handed bat that can balance out a lineup that skews heavily left-handed and gives the Yankees some lineup flexibility.
If Rice ends up spending more time behind the plate, Goldschmidt could see more regular reps at first base.
This isn’t a headline-grabbing move, but it’s a calculated one. It addresses a very real need without tying the team to a long-term commitment. Still, it won’t do much to quiet the criticism surrounding general manager Brian Cashman, who’s been under fire for what many see as a lack of bold moves this offseason.
Despite public pushback, Cashman has stood firm in saying this is not a rerun of the 2025 roster. He’s pointed to the return of key players from the injured list-most notably Gerrit Cole-and cited internal growth and second-half additions from last season as reasons for optimism.
“It’s not the same roster. I would differ there,” Cashman said in January.
“We have some players at some point returning from the IL that are important players, Gerrit Cole being obviously one of them. But we’ve had some additions from the second half that got their feet wet with the Yankees, some with success, some with failures.”
Still, when you look at the external additions-primarily pitchers Ryan Weathers and Angel Chivilli-it’s hard to argue that the Yankees have made sweeping changes. The Goldschmidt signing feels more like a patch than a pivot.
That said, in the marathon that is a Major League season, depth and matchup advantages matter. Goldschmidt may no longer be the centerpiece of a lineup, but in a targeted role-especially against lefties-he can still be a difference-maker. For a Yankees team looking to squeeze every bit of production out of its roster in a highly competitive AL East, that’s a move worth making.