Yankees' $12.5M slugger 'unlikely' to stay with team after this year

The New York Yankees made a flurry of moves this offseason after they lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets. However, one of those moves could end up being a one-year rental.

The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal in free agency. He has bounced back from a down year and is slashing .339/.392/.486 with five home runs. He is playing great for the Yankees at 37 years old, but he will once again be a free agent after the season. The Athletic's Jim Bowden sees the Yankees moving on from the aging veteran.

"He’s at an age where he’s probably going to have to sign one-year contracts, like he did this time with the Yankees ($12.5 million deal)," wrote Bowden. "But he’s still a plus defender who can hit, run the bases and provide quiet leadership. It’s unlikely he returns to the Yankees in 2026 due to the emergence of Ben Rice, who would appear to be their long-term solution at first base starting next year."

Rice is currently occupying the designated hitter role. However, when Giancarlo Stanton returns, it will compromise his spot in the lineup. Goldschmidt is playing great, but he could end up blocking a promising young player from playing every day.

Rice is having a breakout year, slashing .259/.352/.552 with 10 home runs. He looks like he could be the Yankees' first baseman for years to come, but that will mean Goldschmidt will have to be cut loose.

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Goldschmidt should have no problem finding a new team after a resurgent season in the Bronx. He is a seven-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover, five-time Silver Slugger and the 2022 National League MVP Award winner.

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