Paul

Goldschmidt

Goldschmidt’s homer came off Tyler Rogers. Now, Rogers isn’t nearly in midseason form yet with his velocity down by a couple of mph, but he allowed just one homer to right-hander during the regular season last year. Goldschmidt is 4-for-9 as he gets ready for his World Baseball Classic swansong. He’s likely to have a bit role this time after starting for Team USA in the previous two tournaments.

Domínguez enters a pivotal spring training without a clear avenue to regular playing time after New York re-signed veterans Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham earlier this offseason. The 23-year-old former top prospect could potentially wind up back at Triple-A to continue his development by playing everyday. These situations have a way of sorting themselves out but it’s clear that Domínguez will offer minimal fantasy appeal in a reduced role at the highest level. Here is the full lineup: Domínguez (LF), Aaron Judge (RF), Ryan McMahon (3B), Paul Goldschmidt (DH), Seth Brown (1B), Paul DeJong (SS), Spencer Jones (CF), Max Schuemann (2B) and Ali Sánchez (C).

Clarke Schmidt went on the 60-day IL to open up a spot. Goldschmidt joined the Yankees as their starting first baseman last year, but he’ll mostly be asked to play against lefties this season after faring far better against them than righties last season. Ben Rice will surely lose a few at-bats as a result of the move, but it seems like Austin Wells might fare worse with Rice set to do some catching this year.

Rice is likely to come off the board as a top-five catcher in fantasy drafts this spring, but he’s rapidly becoming one of the more polarizing hitters in the entire fantasy landscape. He ranked among the league’s upper echelon in average exit velocity (95th percentile), barrel rate (92nd percentile) and hard-hit percentage (97th percentile) during last year’s 26-homer breakthrough campaign. The soon-to-be 27-year-old slugger appears poised to catch more often than originally anticipated with the Yankees bringing back veteran lefty-masher Paul Goldschmidt to handle the cold corner against southpaws. Kirshner notes that Rice, who is currently viewed as the club’s third backstop, could potentially move into the backup catcher role behind starter Austin Wells in addition to serving as their primary first baseman against right-handed pitching to free up a roster spot for someone like Jasson Domínguez. The added playing time opportunity comes paired with the inherent injury risk that has always followed catchers behind the plate.

The financial terms come from Jon Heyman of The New York Post. It’s been said that Ben Rice was going to get a shot against lefties this year, but that hardly seems to be case now, at least not while everyone is healthy. It’s certainly an understandable move by the Yankees. Goldschmidt, a future Hall of Famer perhaps entering his last season at age 38, hit .336/.411/.570 in 168 plate appearances against southpaws last season. Besides diminishing Rice’s role, his return figures to push Jasson Domínguez back to Triple-A, again assuming that the starting lineup makes it through the spring healthy.

It’ll be Goldschmidt’s third straight time on the roster, though the 38-year-old should be in a bit role this time as one of two free agents on Team USA. Of course, unlike Clayton Kershaw, he still might sign with a team before the tournament. The Yankees are believed to have considered bringing him back to face lefties.

While the team has decided on Ben Rice as their starting first baseman, it seems that they are not comfortable with the idea of him hitting against left-handed pitchers. The Yankees are looking to bring in a right-handed hitter to fill that short-side platoon role, and Heyman specifically mentions Goldschmidt, Ty France, Austin Slater, and Randal Grichuk as players “on their list.” Not all of them have experience at first base, which could prove interesting, but France is the name we keep hearing the most.

Jack Curry of YES Network reports that there’s still interest in having him return to the Yankees, though he might have to accept a reduced role should he return in 2026. Goldschmidt, 38, posted a .981 OPS against left-handers last season compared to a .619 OPS against right-handers.

Healey, who covered the Mets before jumping to the Red Sox in the middle of the season, said one option being discussed in signing Paul Goldschmidt. McNeil is also an option in left field for the Mets after being bumped off second base by the Marcus Semien acquisition. He’s also been mentioned as a trade candidate.

The Yankees have been going with six lefties against most right-handers, but Aaron Boone wanted more balance with the Jays throwing a bullpen game tonight. Of course, there’s still no room for switch-hitter Jasson Domínguez, who apparently returned to his home planet weeks ago.