Paul Goldschmidt Aims to Shine for Yankees in 2025 Season

Paul Goldschmidt ready for Yankees 2025 season.

Paul Goldschmidt, the newest addition to the New York Yankees roster, expressed confidence in his ability to perform at an elite level during his first media availability since signing a one-year, $12.5 million deal in December. Speaking candidly via video conference, the 37-year-old veteran shared his belief that he could boost a Yankees lineup that struggled at first base last season.

“I still think I can play at a high level,” Goldschmidt said, reflecting on his ambitions and the opportunity ahead.

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The Yankees, despite enduring offensive struggles at first base in 2024, reached the World Series for the first time since 2009. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers dashed their championship aspirations. Adding Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and 2022 National League MVP, is a significant step toward solidifying their offense at the position.

While Goldschmidt is coming off a challenging season with the St. Louis Cardinals, posting a 98 OPS+—2% below league average—there are reasons for optimism. Historically, Goldschmidt has been a highly productive player, with a career 139 OPS+. Despite his struggles in 2024, there were signs of resurgence. Over his first 80 games, Goldschmidt hit .225 with 11 house runs, 33 RBIs, and a .655 OPS. In the final 74 games, those numbers improved to .269, 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .784 OPS.

Goldschmidt acknowledged his underperformance last season but emphasized that it provided valuable lessons. “I didn’t play well most of last year, and there’s no excuse. That was on me,” he admitted. “But hopefully, looking back, there’s a lot of things I learned. There’s a lot of things I did wrong that got exposed.”

He attributed part of his struggles to mechanical issues and adjustments in his approach. “If you’re off with [your position to hit], you’re playing uphill the whole time,” he explained. “You’re almost playing catch-up, and you’ve got to be perfect with your swing. We can’t do that enough. The pitchers are too good.”

Despite a decline in key areas, such as strikeout and chase rates over the past few seasons, Goldschmidt’s skill set remains superior to what the Yankees received from their first basemen in 2024. The combination of Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, and others at the position delivered a collective .284 on-base percentage, 16 home runs, and minus-1.0 fWAR—a clear area of weakness that Goldschmidt is expected to address.

Familiarity with key Yankees players factored into Goldschmidt’s decision to join the team. The first baseman shares a rapport with Giancarlo Stanton from playing together for Team USA during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He has spent time training with Aaron Judge, whom he praised as “one of the best hitters in the world.” Goldschmidt also mentioned his connection to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, a former neighbor in Scottsdale, Arizona.

A four-time Gold Glove winner, Goldschmidt remains a strong defender at first base, adding another dimension to his value. However, he is acutely aware of the season’s stakes and the pressure to perform. “I want to play at a high level,” he said. “The feeling was like, ‘Man, I’m better than this.’ That was my feeling last year, but you’ve got to go out and prove it. If you don’t perform, you won’t be playing.”

Now entering his 15th MLB season, Goldschmidt is uncertain about how much longer he will play. With $175.5 million in career earnings, according to Baseball-Reference, the veteran remains focused on delivering results in 2025 and proving he can still be an impact player.

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Goldschmidt’s arrival in the Bronx brings optimism to a team that has shown resilience but needs added firepower to reclaim its championship glory. For the Yankees, the hope is that Goldschmidt’s experience, skill, and determination will be the missing piece in their quest for a title.