Could the Diamondbacks Target a Goldschmidt Reunion in 2025?
Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is entering the final year of his extension with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak implied to the media that the team could hold off on contract extension talks until after the season begins.
The club had hoped to begin contract extension talks with Goldschmidt in the off-season, but now appear to be waiting until they get a clearer picture of their situation as a team.
While the Cardinals might still aggressively pursue keeping the star veteran in St. Louis, in the case that Goldschmidt does walk, he could be a candidate for a stop gap reunion deal with the D-backs.
Goldschmidt had a relative down year in 2023, slashing .268/.363/.447/.810 with 25 home runs, but is only two years removed from an NL MVP-winning season where he slashed .317/.404/.578./982 with 35 home runs.
That being said, Goldschmidt is 36, entering his 14th major league season. The Cardinals, depending on their belief in their ability to contend, or Goldschmidt's ability to stay at a high level deep into his 30s, might be less aggressive with their pursuit of the slugger. If he posts another season of less than spectacular numbers, contract talks could potentially falter.
The D-backs are in a unique spot with regard to the first base position.
Arizona's elite defensive first baseman Christian Walker is also entering the final year of his deal. Walker has won back-to-back gold glove awards, and slugged .258/.333/.497/.830 with 33 home runs in 2023. Walker is 32, entering his 10th major league season.
As Walker is a very streaky hitter with a potential decline coming soon, Arizona could decide against offering him a multi-year extension, leading to a hole in the infield. Infield prospects like Gino Groover (High-A Hillsboro) and Ivan Melendez (Double-A Amarillo) hit for solid numbers in the minors, but would have to show extremely fast improvement--particularly defensively--to be in consideration to take the first base reins in 2025.
The D-backs could still extend Walker, but might encounter some difficulty there with regards to length and dollars for the veteran infielder. If struggles at the plate without viable power-hitting additions elsewhere in the lineup, Arizona might decide against extending their gold glove first baseman. Walker is set to make $10.9 million this season, so a multi-year deal could prove quite costly, and question marks surround whether the D-backs would want to make that investment for a 34-year old.
So, the D-backs could potentially be looking for a hard-hitting veteran on a one- or two-year deal to bridge the gap between Walker and Melendez. If Goldschmidt's numbers don't add up to an extension with St. Louis, he's a guy Arizona could target to bring home on a short deal.
