The Yankees took a calculated gamble this offseason, opting to decline Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million club option and instead signing Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal. While that move saved them some money, it wasn’t as much as it seemed at first glance, considering the $6 million buyout they had to pay Rizzo.
In total, the Yankees saved just $11 million but believe they’ve upgraded both offensively and defensively at first base.
A Potential Offensive Rebound
At 37 years old, Goldschmidt isn’t the dominant slugger he once was, but there’s a strong case that he still has enough left in the tank to be an impact bat.