"All along, Yankees manager Aaron Boone and players constantly praised the seven-time All-Star for his professionalism, leadership, and clubhouse presence. Goldschmidt, a six-time top-10 MVP finisher with the St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks, took on a role as a first base instructor for Rice, who was still learning the position in his second major league season after being drafted as a catcher."
"At the end of the season, Goldschmidt's splits were drastic: He batted .336 with 7 home runs and a .981 OPS in 168 plate appearances against lefties and .247 with a .619 OPS in 366 plate appearances against righties. The Yankees entered the postseason with the timeshare at first base in place, but Goldschmidt was moved to a reserve role after Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox."
Paul Goldschmidt, 38, is finalizing a one-year contract to return to the New York Yankees. He hit .274/.328/.403 for New York in 2025 after signing a one-year, $12 million deal to help replace Juan Soto. Goldschmidt began the season as the everyday first baseman but moved into a platoon role by midseason, with Ben Rice starting against right-handed pitching. He hit .336 with seven homers and a .981 OPS in 168 plate appearances vs. lefties, and .247 with a .619 OPS in 366 plate appearances vs. righties. Team leaders praised his professionalism and he served as a first-base instructor for Rice. Goldschmidt shifted to a reserve role in the postseason and did not start again until late in the ALDS. He had arrived in New York after a career-low statistical season in 2024 with the Cardinals.
Read at ESPN.com
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