Paul Goldschmidt, the veteran first baseman, has joined the New York Yankees on a one-year, $12.75 million contract, entering the twilight years of his career at age 37. Despite a rough 2024 season with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he posted a career-worst 100 wRC+ and 1.1 fWAR, there are reasons for optimism in New York.
Goldschmidt’s performance was league-average last season, hitting .245 with a .302 on-base percentage. However, he showed signs of a second-half resurgence, posting an OPS near .800. His power could improve in Yankee Stadium, where his 22 home runs last season would have been 25, thanks to the stadium’s more favorable hitting conditions compared to Busch Stadium.
In New York, Goldschmidt will have a more potent lineup around him, with players like Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton ahead of him, likely providing him with more RBI opportunities and better pitches to hit. While he may bat lower in the order than he did with the Cardinals, the improved protection should help offset age-related regression.
Fangraphs projects Goldschmidt to bounce back slightly with a 114 wRC+, .250 batting average, 24 home runs, 82 RBI, and 1.9 fWAR. Our prediction is that he will continue his slight resurgence, posting a .253 average, 26 home runs, 107 wRC+, and 2.1 fWAR in 2025, driven by the competitive environment and a stronger lineup in New York.
