Paul Goldschmidt’s Return Raises Questions
Paul Goldschmidt is set to return to St. Louis this weekend with the Yankees, but there are concerns about his availability due to a knee injury.
The All-Star first baseman missed the game on Wednesday after sustaining what was described as a low-grade sprain in his right knee.
Goldschmidt played for the Cardinals for five seasons before signing a one-year contract with the Yankees last winter.
“There’s really no need for extra motivation to heal; I’ll do everything I can,” Goldschmidt said after the game. “We just want to go there and play well, and hopefully, we’ll have the chance to do that.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that Goldschmidt could be placed on the injured list, but the 37-year-old player expressed doubt, saying he doesn’t think it’s anything “long-term.”
If Goldschmidt ends up sidelined, the Yankees have Ben Rice available, but they could also use Cody Bellinger in left field, which may allow Jackson Dominguez to be utilized elsewhere.
Austin Wells, it seems, has been struggling, with a dismal 5-for-50 run and only one home run and three RBIs over his last fifteen games.
Bellinger has started two of six appearances at first base this season and has played that position in 343 games throughout his career.
It’s easy to overlook Giancarlo Stanton amidst the discussions, as he’s been impressive while playing three consecutive games in right field. This arrangement has allowed Aaron Judge to act as the designated hitter as he recovers from a right flexor strain. Stanton hit a remarkable 447-foot home run during Tuesday’s 9-1 win over the Twins; that marked the 441st of his prolific 16-year MLB career.
Starting the season ranked 51st in MLB history, Stanton’s missed time due to an elbow issue has not prevented him from moving up to 44th place, with twelve home runs in his first 43 games of 2025. He’s now close to passing Dave Kingman, who is in 43rd place.
Boone mentioned some friendly rivalry about the home runs, reminding Stanton of Kingman’s achievements. “I mean, I think they are all big now,” he said. “But I enjoy it, and I think he enjoys it too.”
Next on the list is Kingman at 40th, followed by Hall of Famers Vladimir Guerrero and Jeff Bagwell with 449 and 452 home runs, respectively.
Among active players, Stanton leads with a significant edge over Mike Trout (398), with teammates Goldschmidt (372) and Judge (353) coming in third and seventh, respectively. Judge recently returned from the injured list against Minnesota.
