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First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is heading back to the Bronx.
The New York Yankees have re-signed first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year contract, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. The seven-time All-Star returns to the Bronx after a solid first season with the club. Terms of the deal have not yet been made public. The 38-year-old Goldschmidt is the second former MVP the Yankees have retained this offseason, joining outfielder Cody Bellinger.
New York brought in Goldschmidt on a one-year, $12.5 million pact last offseason. He had spent the previous six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he won the NL MVP award in 2022. Goldschmidt hit .274 with 10 home runs and five stolen bases this past year. The durable veteran appeared in 145+ games for the fifth consecutive season.
A slow offseason for the Yankees is finally picking up steam. The club traded for left-hander Ryan Weathers in mid-January, then re-upped with Bellinger later in the month. New York now brings back a steady glove and reliable hitter to chip in at first base.
New York Yankees’ Payroll Set to Exceed $300 Million
Ever the big spenders, the Yankees’ financial output has grown even by their lofty standards in recent seasons. FanGraphs’ RosterResource tool estimates the organization’s 2026 payroll at $304 million. That number does not account for Goldschmidt’s contract, which is likely to be in the eight-figure range once again. The overall spend will be a decent jump from last season, when the club invested $296 million in a roster that fell to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.
New York trimmed payroll to a somewhat reasonable $201 million in 2021. The figure moved to $249 million the following season. It jumped to $274 million in 2023, before crossing $300 million in 2024.
If Goldschmidt’s contract is above $10 million, he’ll be the 10th player on the roster with a salary exceeding seven figures for the 2026 season. The massive $42.5 million commitment to Bellinger tops the list, followed closely behind by the $40 million owed to Aaron Judge. New York also owes $36 million to Gerrit Cole this year. Cole is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.
What Goldschmidt’s Return Means for Ben Rice
The addition of a veteran first baseman will directly impact the outlook for breakout bat Ben Rice. The 26-year-old lefty slugged 26 home runs and delivered a 133 wRC+ in his first extended look in the big leagues last year. Rice slashed a robust .255/.337/.499 while maintaining a strikeout rate below 20%.
As Rice emerged as one of New York’s most imposing hitters last season, Goldschmidt slowly lost playing time. By September, he was a part-time player. The veteran started just a dozen games in the final month of the season. He made just two starts in the postseason, though he did appear twice as a pinch hitter and a couple more times as a defensive replacement.
With Rice leapfrogging Goldschmidt on the depth chart last season, he’s well-positioned to handle the majority of the first base workload in 2026. Goldschmidt’s main route to playing time is likely against left-handed pitching. Rice has hit just .189 in 164 career plate appearances against southpaws. Goldschmidt delivered a stellar .981 OPS against left-handers last season.
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