{"id":89649,"date":"2024-11-14T17:38:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T22:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=89649"},"modified":"2024-11-15T18:32:23","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T23:32:23","slug":"former-mvp-cardinals-paul-goldschmidt-free-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/14\/former-mvp-cardinals-paul-goldschmidt-free-agent\/","title":{"rendered":"Former MVP Looks to Continue Career Beyond Cardinals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that the St. Louis Cardinals have moved on<\/a>, the future of free agent Paul Goldschmidt<\/a>‘s career is uncertain. What sort of value might the former National League MVP bring to a new team? With free agent Pete Alonso<\/a> likely to make the biggest splash<\/a> in the 1B market, what kind of leverage can he command? Will teams be willing to bet on a return to form, or has Goldschmidt truly entered the twilight of his career<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Paul Goldschmidt Faces Uncertain Future as Free Agent<\/h2>\n

Goldy, Silver, and Bronze<\/h3>\n

When the Cardinals acquired Goldschmidt in a blockbuster 2018 trade<\/a>, many fans had high hopes for his tenure in St. Louis. In his eight years with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he had six All-Star seasons, three Gold Gloves, and was a near-perennial MVP candidate. Coupled with a 2019 run to the NLCS and the 2021 acquisition<\/a> of star 3B Nolan Arenado<\/a>, it appeared that a new era had arrived in St. Louis. The Cardinals were able to extend Goldschmidt on a five-year, $130 million contract prior to that season.<\/p>\n

This culminated in Goldschmidt’s magnificent NL MVP campaign in 2022. That season, he slashed .317\/.578\/.404 with 35 homers and 115 RBI.<\/p>\n

However, despite their pairing of two of the most consistent offensive and defensive players this century, the Cardinals have failed to win a playoff series since 2019. They have lost in the Wild Card Game once, the expanded Wild Card Series twice, and have now fallen short of the postseason for back-to-back years.<\/p>\n

Goldschmidt, now 37, struggled mightily in 2024. His 98 OPS+ was the worst of his career by a whopping 19 points, and his inability to hit in crucial moments became a particular point of frustration for fans.<\/p>\n

With the Cardinals looking to supplement their current youth movement<\/a>, they have also decided not to pursue an extension of Goldschmidt’s contract. While the Cardinals have multiple options to fill his role, where will Goldschmidt end up?<\/p>\n

Goldschmidt’s Value<\/h3>\n

With the New York Yankees declining<\/a> Anthony Rizzo<\/a>‘s option for 2025 and the free agency of Christian Walker<\/a>, there is no shortage of aging first basemen on the market this offseason.<\/p>\n

Despite his struggles, Goldschmidt picked up his production toward the end of the season. Through September he slashed .275\/.473\/.313 with 13 XBH, showing late signs of a return to form as the Cardinals wallowed in the depth of the Wild Card race.<\/p>\n

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Paul Goldschmidt snatches the lead right back for the @Cardinals<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/G6F3831Z4B<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB (@MLB) September 4, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n