TAMPA \u2014 From the moment the Yankees\u2019 2025 season came to an end in the ALDS, Paul Goldschmidt knew he wanted to keep playing. Furthermore, he knew he wanted to do so in pinstripes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had such a good time here,\u201d the first baseman said Wednesday as a few position players arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field ahead of schedule. \u201cI was hoping my time wasn\u2019t done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goldschmidt, 38 and still looking for a World Series ring, agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Yankees last Friday<\/a>, just days before pitchers and catchers officially reported to Tampa. Incentives could net Goldschmidt as much as $6 million after he made $12.5 million last year, his first with the Yankees.<\/p>\n Goldschmidt declined to say if he had opportunities to make more money or get more playing time elsewhere. The veteran also said he hasn\u2019t thought about playing beyond 2026, which will be his 16th big league season.<\/p>\n The questions came up because Goldschmidt\u2019s pact also comes with a new job description, as the former MVP is expected to be a role player. That\u2019s because Ben Rice is positioned as the Yankees\u2019 primary first baseman, and the club plans on letting the hard-hitting lefty swinger face more southpaws in 2026.<\/p>\n Goldschmidt, who mentored Rice last season, understands the shift in dynamic, as he said his pupil has the potential to be an All-Star.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Benny\u2019s going to definitely be planning to get the bulk of the playing time over there,\u201d Goldschmidt said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m definitely fine with whatever role they need me to [do].\u201d<\/p>\n A right-handed hitter, Goldschmidt could get some starts at first against tougher lefties. He can also be used against them as a pinch-hitter with portside swingers like Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon set to be regulars in the Yankees\u2019 lineup.<\/p>\n Goldschmidt posted a .981 OPS against left-handers last season, though his effectiveness against them declined drastically in the second half. He finished the season with a .274 average, .731 OPS, 10 home runs, 45 RBI and 145 games overall.<\/p>\n The Yankees can use Goldschmidt as a late-inning defensive substitute, too, as Rice is still a work in progress at first. Goldschmidt plans on continuing to assist that progress, though.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more experience you get over there, the better you get,\u201d Goldschmidt said. \u201cWe were working last year a lot over there, taking grounders around the bag, and I just saw him improve. I kind of had a similar trajectory when I think about what it was like when I first got to the big leagues, so hopefully he\u2019ll continue to improve and get better at all facets of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Aaron Boone also said that it\u2019s \u201cpossible\u201d Rice will catch more with Goldschmidt back. How much \u201cremains to be seen\u201d and will depend on health and other roster decisions, but Rice is preparing for such a scenario after tallying just 229.2 innings as a receiver last season.<\/p>\n Regardless, Rice is expected to be a regular presence in the Yankees\u2019 lineup after Boone said he has \u201cearned\u201d the right to eclipse the 530 plate appearances he had over 138 games last year. Those trips to the plate yielded a .255 average, .836 OPS, 26 homers and 65 RBI.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a very smart player, very hungry, hard worker, and wants to be the best he can be,\u201d Goldschmidt said. \u201cHe definitely has the potential to do great things.\u201d<\/p>\n COLE\u2019S NEXT BIG STEP<\/p>\n Some pitchers and catchers were still awaiting physicals when Boone spoke to reporters late Wednesday morning, but the manager wasn\u2019t aware of any new injuries as camp began.<\/p>\n As for pre-existing ones, Boone said that Carlos Rod\u00f3n, recovering from elbow surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur, and Gerrit Cole, who underwent Tommy John surgery last spring, are doing well with their throwing programs.<\/p>\n Boone added that Cole is scheduled to start facing live hitters in \u201ca couple weeks\u201d and could \u201cpotentially\u201d get in games before spring training ends. The Yankees\u2019 hope is that he\u2019ll make his season debut in late May or early June.<\/p>\n Rod\u00f3n, looking at a late-April or early-May return, previously said that he thinks he\u2019ll make some spring training starts<\/a>. That would put him on track for a minor league rehab assignment at the start of the regular season.<\/p>\n With Rod\u00f3n, Cole and Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John surgery) all starting the year on the injured list, the Yankees\u2019 projected season-opening rotation includes Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil.<\/p>\n THE LATEST ON VOLPE<\/p>\n