Yankees' Updated Payroll, Starting Lineup After Paul Goldschmidt's Rumored Contract
December 21, 2024
The New York Yankees have added a former MVP to the roster.
The Yankees are signing first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal, according to YES Network's Jack Curry and ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Goldschmidt, who turned 37 in September, adds a right-handed bat to the Yankees lineup.
He could potentially serve as part of a platoon with Ben Rice, who split time between Triple-A and the MLB last season but could take on a bigger role in 2025.
Here's a look at the Yankees projected starting lineup following the Goldschmidt signing.
Yankees projected 2025 starting lineup
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B)
- Aaron Judge (RF)
- Cody Bellinger (CF)
- Giancarlo Stanton (DH)
- Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
- Jasson Domínguez (LF)
- Austin Wells (C)
- Oswaldo Cabrera (3B)
- Anthony Volpe (SS)
The Yankees had a current 2025 payroll of $234 million and a projected 2025 payroll of $266 million prior to the Goldschmidt signing, according to Spotrac.
Even after the addition of Goldschmidt's one-year deal, the team will remain well below their adjusted total 2024 payroll of $308 million (h/t Spotrac) following the offseason departure of Juan Soto in free agency.
Goldschmidt recorded a career-low .245 batting average and .716 OPS while recording 22 home runs and 65 RBI for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.
His numbers improved against left-handed pitchers, against whom he batted .295 in 81 games.
That could make him a potential fit for a platoon with Rice, who struggled to sustain offense at the MLB level but still recorded his best numbers against right-handers.
The Yankees could still be looking to add another infielder to this roster. The team has previously been linked to Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The Houston Astros were pursuing Arenado, but he recently blocked a proposed move to Houston using the no-trade clause in his contract, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, John Denton and Brain McTaggart.
Signing Goldschmidt could potentially help the Yankees convince Arenado not to similarly block a trade to the Bronx. The two were teammates over the past four seasons in St. Louis, and MLB.com's Denton, Feinsand and Bryan Hoch recently reported that Goldschmidt "could have a strong influence" on Arenado waiving his no-trade clause for the Yankees.
Chisholm took on a role at third base last season after primarily playing second base earlier in his career. If the Yankees are able to work out a trade for Arenado, Chisholm could slide back to second, with Goldschmidt and shortstop Anthony Volpe rounding out the infield.
