Cardinals Watch as Paul Goldschmidt Thrives in New York — and It Stings
The St. Louis Cardinals were supposed to turn a page this offseason. With John Mozeliak entering his final year and Chaim Bloom waiting in the wings, the plan was clear—or so it seemed: embrace the youth movement, reset the roster, and build something new. Thus, letting Paul Goldschmidt walk made sense in that context. He was coming off a down year at age 37, and a one-year deal never truly aligned with a long-term rebuild.
But here’s the twist: the rebuild never really happened.
Yes, Goldschmidt left. But Nolan Arenado stayed. Willson Contreras, now 33, was moved to first base. And suddenly, the Cardinals—this veteran-heavy team that was supposed to be retooling—are looking like a legitimate NL Wild Card threat.
And wouldn’t you know it? Goldy is thriving in New York.
At the same time, current Cardinals first baseman, Willson Contreras, is throwing major shade at a Brewers infielder.
Paul Goldschmidt Is Back in All-Star Form
Now with the Yankees, Goldschmidt is batting .290 with an .826 OPS, 7 home runs, 31 RBIs, and even 5 stolen bases across 257 at-bats. Oh—and he’s currently leading the American League All-Star voting at first base.
Indeed, there’s probably a little Yankees bias baked into the fan tally. But Goldy’s numbers hold up. Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda (.319 AVG, .902 OPS) might have the edge statistically, and names like Spencer Torkelson and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have strong cases, but Goldschmidt is anchoring a top-tier lineup for one of baseball’s best teams. He’s been a stabilizer in a power-packed, yet streaky Bronx lineup.
Meanwhile in St. Louis…
Back in St. Louis, the Cardinals are staying afloat thanks to elite defense and an overachieving pitching staff. Offensively? Not much pop. And while Contreras has filled in admirably at first, moving him off catcher was never the ideal plan, especially without Goldschmidt’s bat and leadership to backfill the void.
Let’s not forget: this is the 2022 NL MVP we’re talking about—a clubhouse leader and a model of consistency. Thus, at just $12.5 million for one year, Goldy’s deal with the Yankees is practically a steal.
The Missed Opportunity
If the Cardinals were truly going to tear it down and go all-in on youth, fine. But they didn’t. They tweaked around the edges, held onto veterans, and aimed to compete—just without one of their most reliable stars.
Now, Goldschmidt’s doing what he’s always done—lead quietly, hit consistently, and make contenders better. Although he’s doing it in the Bronx, on a team that will probably replace him in a heartbeat with a shiny free agent or Ben Rice, their ascending 26-year-old slugger.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are left with a hole—not just in the lineup, but in the leadership structure of the clubhouse. And with how close the NL Wild Card race is shaping up to be, it’s hard not to wonder what might’ve been had St. Louis kept Goldy in red.
