The Minnesota Twins need a first baseman next season but while the Twins are interested in Carlos Santana’s return, they may have just been priced out by Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees.
Goldschmidt agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees on Saturday, giving one of the top options on the market a new home. While Goldschmidt is a former MVP, his age and production suggest the Yankees overpaid and inflated a free-agent market that is out of the Twins’ price range.
Paul Goldschmidt just emphasized a growing problem for the Minnesota Twins
A seven-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner and a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Goldschmidt fits the Yankees’ tradition of acquiring big names in free agency. But Goldschmidt isn’t the player he was during the prime of his career.
Goldschmidt won the 2022 MVP award with the St. Louis Cardinals, hitting .317/.404/.578 with 35 home runs and 115 RBI but his numbers dipped to .268/.363/447 with 25 homers and 80 RBI in 2023 and .245/.302/.414 with 22 homers and 65 RBI last season.
With Goldschmidt also becoming an average defender at first base, it’s surprising to see him get $12.5 million from the Yankees even with FanGraphs projecting a $14 million salary for 2025. Yankee Stadium’s hitter-friendly vibes could help rehabilitate his value but at age 37, it’s a risky bet even for a team with deep pockets.
The New York Yankees just priced the Minnesota Twins out of Carlos Santana
Goldschmidt’s deal is great news for Santana, who is looking to cash in after hitting .238/.328/.420 with 23 home runs, 71 RBI and his first career Gold Glove Award in 2024. While Santana is entering his age-39 season, he had the highest wins above replacement of any current free-agent first baseman last season and just watched another player in his late 30s get paid.
Goldschmidt’s deal is bad news for the Twins, however, as it raises the price of a free-agent first baseman. Christian Walker signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Houston Astros at age 34 earlier this week and at a projected salary of $7 million, Santana could look to get a little more on his next contract based on these two signings.
This is life for the Twins who have reportedly listened to offers on Carlos Correa and Pablo López as they look to operate with a $130 million payroll for the second straight year. While Jose Miranda or Edouard Julien could take over at first base, neither player has extensive experience at the position and could make the Twins a worse team defensively.
It could lead the Twins to search the trade market for their next first baseman but more likely adds another frustrating element to Minnesota’s offseason.