TAMPA – 37-year-old Paul Goldschmidt is the oldest player in the Yankees.
But he may be one of their most durable people. This is just one of the attributes that kept the bank true when the Yankees signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with a veteran baseman.
Goldschmidt has played at least 150 games in each of the last nine seasons (not counting Covid-Shorted's 2020) – There has been no threshold reached by the Yankees' first bass man since Mark Teixeira in 2011.
If they could build on the adjustments the previous NL MVP made in the second half of last season, they could give the Yankees the production they lacked in that position after a rough first half.
“He's in perfect shape. He's a gym rat in baseball,” manager Aaron Boone told Stein Brenner Field on Tuesday. “He's working on a variety of things on the field right now, so it's a little thing we think we can help him there too. He drinks baseball.
“He really wants to be coached, pushed, learn the little things he can apply to his game. He's a gaming student, his entire career and he's really talented. I'm really excited about him. We're trying to prepare him and look forward to what he has to offer on both sides of the ball.”
Goldschmidt said Tuesday that adaptation to the Yankees was “pretty smooth” after arriving early in Tampa and starting the process.
Charles Wentzelberg/New York Post
Now the focus is on picking up from where he left off last season.
He began the year batting .226 with .669 OPS through his first 122 games before hitting .328 with .908 OPS in his final 32 games.
He and the Yankees believe that the mechanical adjustments he had late can take over this season.
“My individual focus continues to hone these habits aggressively,” Goldschmidt said. “It's good. I feel like I'm in a good place.”
“The truth is, I just didn't play well… a lot of last year. It wasn't because of lack of effort, I was doing everything I could. I took lots of swings and stuff. But This game is tough, the pitchers are good, and if you get down a little bit, it can go downhill. Hopefully it will be a good thing in my career.
In that case, Goldschmidt will eclip 150 games for yet another season.
“Paul is just a professional,” said Cody Bellinger, who saw a lot of Goldschmidts in the National League. “It's a guy who's been consistent throughout his career. Defensively, really good baserunner, stealing bases, and the attack speaks for itself. A guy who expects a lot from himself. Really good. I hope that Paul will become Paul. He is an incredible player.”
