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Paul Goldschmidt will begin his 16th season in Major League Baseball wearing the New York Yankees uniform. The veteran first baseman has chosen to remain in the Big Apple, even though several sources report that he turned down more money to continue his career elsewhere.
Having played under Aaron Boone in 2025, it seems that Goldschmidt enjoys New York and believes he can help the team in a more conservative role. In addition, the team was looking for a right-handed batter to add to its bench, and he can fill that role perfectly.
The signing of number 48 does not mean that the New York team's management has lost confidence in Ben Rice. On the contrary, Goldschmidt will serve as insurance both offensively and defensively and will have specific assignments at specific times. This will allow Rice to develop under the watchful eye of a seasoned veteran.
Paul Goldschmidt is back. This should not prevent Ben Rice from getting the majority of ABs this season. https://t.co/c9Zoj2pC2W
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) February 7, 2026
Rice, 26, is part of the team's future, and it's important that he be able to hone his skills in good company.
By accepting a short contract and a predefined role, Goldschmidt is staying in New York with full knowledge of the facts.
For Aaron Boone, the presence of a good veteran will also help ease the pressure on Aaron Judge as team captain. At 38, Goldschmidt has seen it all and is able to calm things down when the going gets tough and the manager needs support from his veterans. Storms are commonplace in the Bronx, as the team's fans are very critical of their club and expectations are always very high at the start of the season. 2026 will obviously be no exception to the rule.
Good defensively and still capable of contributing offensively, Paul Goldschmidt is a good signing under the circumstances. Last year, he sacrificed some power, but he made contact with the ball more often by reducing his strikeouts.
The Yankees didn't make much noise during the offseason, but keeping a good veteran on board, knowing that other teams were offering him more money, is a good move by the organization. Sometimes stability is better than shaking things up in hopes of better results.
Goldschmidt had opportunities to make more $$ elsewhere, but returns to the Yankees where his value is vs. LHP, as a defensive late-game option to defend for Ben Rice at 1b and clubhouse stabilizer. https://t.co/YU3K1gG0oi
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 6, 2026
After all, Aaron Boone's team isn't in such a bad situation, as it is expected to battle neck and neck with the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the American League East in 2026.
With Goldschmidt, the Yankees know what to expect. He has played the most games (1,611) in Major League Baseball since the 2015 season. Rarely injured, he has not been inactive in his last 11 seasons. However, his 145 games played in 2025 represent his lowest total, with the exception of the 2020 season.
Aaron Bonne planned to give Ben Rice more opportunities to face left-handed pitchers in 2026, but the signing of Paul Goldschmidt for next season may slightly alter his plans.
Goldschmidt played eight years in Arizona and six years in St. Louis before signing with the Yankees for the 2025 season. It should also be noted that in the coming weeks, he will represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
It was also announced Thursday night that Paul Goldschmidt is on the roster for the United States for the World Baseball Classic.
Goldschmidt agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Yankees today. pic.twitter.com/VWXZc2dvHx
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 7, 2026
This content was created with the help of AI.
