In a surprising turn of events, the New York Yankees are reportedly considering trading former St. Louis Cardinals star Paul Goldschmidt to the Chicago Cubs, a move that could send shockwaves through the National League and haunt Cardinals fans who watched their former MVP walk away in free agency just months ago.
Goldschmidt, who signed a one-year deal with the Yankees this offseason, has been a revelation in New York. Through 60 games, the veteran first baseman is slashing an impressive .323/.380/.471, with a jaw-dropping .520/.613/.900 line against left-handed pitchers in 50 at-bats. Overall, he boasts a .327 average, six home runs, and an .859 OPS in 220 at-bats, proving he remains one of baseball’s elite hitters at age 37.
However, the return of Giancarlo Stanton from injury and the emergence of young prospect Ben Rice have created a logjam in the Yankees’ lineup. According to Newsweek’s Andrew Wright, this roster crunch could force New York to make a tough decision. “New York won’t be able to get Rice, Stanton, and Goldschmidt in the same lineup on a regular basis, so it seems that a move of some sort will have to be made,” Wright wrote. “The trade of a player on a one-year deal rather than a young, promising player could be the correct move for the Yankees to make.”
Wright predicts that the Yankees could ship Goldschmidt to the Chicago Cubs, a National League powerhouse that would benefit immensely from his bat. Such a move would be a nightmare scenario for the Cardinals, who opted not to re-sign Goldschmidt in favor of reallocating resources elsewhere. While St. Louis’ decision to let him walk was defensible at the time, seeing their former star thrive with a division rival like the Cubs would sting.
That said, the logic behind trading Goldschmidt is questionable for the Yankees. With his versatility to play first base and serve as a designated hitter, Goldschmidt could be used effectively in a platoon role, maximizing his impact against left-handed pitching while keeping both Stanton and Rice in the lineup. Trading a player of his caliber to a strong NL contender like the Cubs seems like a move that would benefit Chicago far more than New York.
For now, Goldschmidt remains a key piece of the Yankees’ lineup, but if Wright’s prediction comes to fruition, Cardinals fans may be left wondering what could have been as their former slugger powers the Cubs toward a postseason run.