My Take: Yankees Re-Sign Paul Goldschmidt
1. The Yankees re-sign Paul Goldschmidt to a 1-year contract
This is lunacy. This is stupidity. This is lazy. This is absurd. This is pointless. This is borderline criminal.
What are the Yankees thinking?
Goldschmidt plays one position, a position the Yankees have tried to convince us is in good hands with Ben Rice. So, naturally, they bring back a veteran platoon first baseman who crashed and burned in the second half last season.
Let me give the Yankees a reality check: Old players don’t tend to get better. Goldschmidt had a marginal 103 wRC+ in 2025 and was worth 0.8 fWAR. His baserunning graded out below average. His OAA was -3, “good” for 13th among qualified MLB first basemen. Correct: All this talk about his supposed defensive prowess is just that. He isn’t a good defensive first baseman, and he isn’t an adequate offensive one. What does that leave us with, exactly? An organization that talks about adding versatility to the team adds an old first baseman who hasn’t played well over a full season since 2023.
I give credit where it is due: Goldschmidt was a major help when Giancarlo Stanton was on the IL last season. His offensive surge happened while Stanton was out. However, even the narrative that he was good in the “first half” is misleading. He was good through May. After that, he hit .226/.277/.333.
That is when you say “Thank you for your service” and move on.
Bottom Line
This could mean more time for Rice as the backup catcher, allowing them to place Goldschmidt at first base on those days.
It’s still stupid.
A corresponding 40-man roster move has yet to be announced.
The Yankees reportedly also had interest in Ty France. France is stronger defensively, and it surprised me to see that his wRC+ was “only” 11 points lower than Goldschmidt’s. 92 isn’t good, and I am not advocating for Ty Freaking France. He would be equally absurd.
2. The Yankees claim Osvaldo Bido, designating Braden Shewmake for assignment
That was an impressive run for Shewmake. He was on the 40-man roster for the entire 2025 season, though he never made it to the Bronx. He is a former first-round pick who offers infield versatility.
Bido, 30, owns a 5.07 ERA in 193.2 innings as a swingman for the Pirates and Athletics. His best season was 2024, when he pitched to a 3.41 ERA in 16 games (9 starts), covering 63.1 innings. He struck out hitters at a 24.3% rate, but also walked 10% of those who strolled to the plate.
Bottom Line
Everything is connected. The Yankees traded Jayvien Sandridge to the Angels. To make room for Sandridge, they waived Bido, who is now a Yankee.
Shewmake didn’t have a role on paper, though the Yankees can use someone who can cover shortstop while Anthony Volpe is out. Oswaldo Cabrera could be that guy. Amed Rosario has plenty of shortstop experience and could play the position when you are desperate. That isn’t ideal. Jose Caballero is favored to be the Opening Day shortstop.