"Yankees didn't want to give Christian Walker a 3-year deal" - Reds HOFer makes feelings known about Paul Goldschmidt's $12,500,000 move

The New York Yankees added Paul Goldschmidt to their roster on a one-year, $12.5 million contract this weekend. The Yankees needed to fill the vacancy at first base after Anthony Rizzo was released at the end of last season.

MLB analyst Sean Casey feels Paul Goldschmidt would be a good fit for the New York Yankees, as they didn't Christian Walker a three-year contract. He thinks the 2022 National League MVP would provide stability, so they won't have to keep switching between utility infielders like Jon Berti, D.J. LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera for the first baseman position.

Casey, a former three-time All-Star first baseman, said on The Mayor's Office podcast about the Yankees acquiring Paul Goldschmidt from the free agent market. [2:33 - 3:47]

"I love Goldschmidt to the Yankees. It's a one-year deal, $12.5 million. They didn't want to really give Christian Walker a three-year deal at his age," he said. "Goldie didn't have a great year last year, but don't forget, two years ago he was the MVP of the NL.

"The Yankees want a good first baseman," he added. "They just don't want to put [Jon] Berti in there, with Rizzo being gone. They had Berti over there; they had Cabrera over there, just trying to piece a team together. You want to have a legit first baseman there, so that's a big signing for them.

Paul Goldschmidt has earned seven All-Star selections since making his major league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 and signed a five-year, $130 million extension the next year, which ended last season.

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"St. Louis is not a good hitter's park": Sean Casey on Paul Goldschmidt's struggles in 2024

Paul Goldschmidt has won five Silver Sluggers and four Gold Gloves as a first baseman (Image Source: Imagn)

Although Paul Goldschmidt was the NL MVP a couple of years ago, his production from the batter's box has dropped sharply over the past couple of years. The 37-year-old is showing sure signs of aging after posting his worst season since his rookie year in the MLB.

Sean Casey feels Busch Stadium, the current home of the St. Louis Cardinals, has also played a factor in Goldschmidt's decline. He pointed out that fellow Cardinals superstar Nolan Arenado is also grappling with the same issues.

"St. Louis is not a good hitter's park," he said. "How many guys from St. Louis in the last 10 years have had big years there?" Arenado—look at his numbers; they have drastically dropped.

"It's not a great place to hit," he added. "You're in St. Louis, you want a home run, you hit it."

The Cardinals are looking to offload Nolan Arenado from their payroll after missing the playoffs in the last two seasons.