MLB analyst predicts Paul Goldschmidt’s next contract in light of Christian Walker’s $60,000,000 Astros deal

The free agency situation for first basemen is heating up after the Houston Astros signed Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal, while Paul Goldschmidt is one of the other veteran options available.

Former All-Star first baseman Sean Casey reckons the New York Yankees could be a good fit for Paul Goldschmidt, especially as they won't have to pay a premium price for him. He said that the former National League MVP would be a good piece to add to the Yankees lineup, which has Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger.

Sean Casey, an analyst for MLB Network,offered his thoughts on The Mayor's Office podcast on Friday. (8:01 - 8:58)

"It looks like the Yankees might be in on Goldschmidt," he said. "(If) Christian Walker's three-year, $20 million per year, (then) maybe Goldie is $10 (million per year).

"I want to have a veteran guy," he added. "Also, too, you put Goldschmidt in a lineup with Judge, and Bellinger, and Stanton, then all of a sudden you have a different animal in there."

Goldschmidt is a seven-time All-Star first baseman with four Gold Gloves and five Silver Sluggers over his 14-year major league career.

He spent eight seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks before getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019. He later signed a five-year, $130 million extension that culminated at the end of this season.

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"I guarantee his numbers, his production goes way up": Sean Casey on Paul Goldschmidt joining the Yankees

The 2024 campaign was the worst season in the career of Paul Goldschmidt (Image Source: Imagn)

Goldschmidt was the NL MVP for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, but his offensive production has declined drastically over the past couple of years. He posted a .245/.302/.414 slash line in the 2024 campaign, with an OPS+ of just 98, which are all career lows.

Nevertheless, Sean Casey believes Paul Goldschmidt could still provide good value for the New York Yankees and rejuvenate his career in the Bronx.

"I look at a guy like Goldschmidt; if he still wants to play, he knows there's something left in the tank," Casey said.

"Don't forget, [Juan] Soto's numbers were no doubt inflated this year with Judge hitting behind him," he added. "You take Paul Goldschmidt, and you stick him in that lineup with some heavy hitters; I guarantee his numbers, his production, go way up."

Goldschmidt hit .317/.404/.578 with 76 extra-base hits, including 35 home runs, and an OPS+ of 177 during his MVP-winning 2022 season.