The Cardinals are reportedly closing in on an extension with recently acquired first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Ken Rosenthal reports that the extension will be in the ballpark of five years and $130 million. At five years, the new contract will carry into Goldschmidt’s age 36 season.
St. Louis brought Goldschmidt in this offseason in a trade with the Diamondbacks. They gave up catching prospect Carson Kelly and Luke Weaver in exchange for Goldy, who was set to become a free agent this offseason. Their intentions were to bring him in and extend him, which is exactly what they’ve done.
Paul Goldschmidt
In 2018, Goldy slashed .290/.389/.533 with 33 home runs, 35 doubles and 83 RBI. He is exactly the type of power presence that has been missing from the St. Louis lineup since Matt Holliday’s injuries. For his career, the big first baseman has hit .297 with an OPS of .930. He’s made six All-Star appearances, won four Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves and has finished in the top three in the NL MVP race three times. Two other times he finished sixth and eleventh.
So far this Spring Training, Goldschmidt has hit .233 with an OPS of .717 and one home run. Despite his spring struggles, the Cardinals look for him to be a staple in the lineup this season. Moreover, they hope he will hold down the middle of the order for years to come.
Featured image by Christian Gooden of the St. Louis Post Dispatch
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