New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is getting the day off on Thursday for the series finale against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium. Ben Rice is getting the start at first base and is hitting leadoff against D-backs right-hander Merrill Kelly. Goldy will take his first day off of the year after hitting atop New York's batting order the last four games. The 37-year-old former National League MVP has gotten off to a .250 batting average (5-for-20) with a homer, double, two RBI, one walk and six strikeouts in five games played. The seven-time All-Star showed plenty of signs of decline his last two years in St. Louis, but he could be a bit more intriguing as a bounce-back candidate if he continues to hit atop the Yankees' batting order. Rice will be a popular DFS play on Thursday in the leadoff spot after going 5-for-13 with two homers, a double and two RBI in his first five games in 2025.

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is batting leadoff again on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Corbin Burnes. It will be Goldschmidt's third time leading off in the early going in five games played. In his first game at leadoff on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the 37-year-old right-handed slugger hit the first pitch he saw out of the park and set the stage for the Yankees to set a new MLB record by homering three straight times on only three pitches to begin a game. He will now hit leadoff for the third straight game against a right-hander, and the Yanks don't really have any reason to change their lineup up after scoring 32 runs in the games that Goldy has hit leadoff. He's gone 5-for-12 with a homer, double and two RBI in three games and has hit .323 with an .834 OPS, a homer and two RBI in 31 career at-bats against Burnes.

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is starting at first base and batting leadoff for the team's second game of the regular season on Saturday at Yankee Stadium against the Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander Nestor Cortes. Catcher Austin Wells was the team's leadoff hitter on Opening Day against Milwaukee on Thursday, but Goldy will sit atop the order on Saturday with a lefty on the mound. Outfielder Jasson Dominguez is at designated hitter, which will push the lefty-hitting Ben Rice to the bench with a southpaw starting. Goldschmidt went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Opening Day in his Yankees debut. The 37-year-old veteran has shown obvious signs of decline as a hitter the last few seasons before coming to the Bronx, although there is bounce-back potential with the Yankees, and hitting leadoff against lefties will help. Goldy has one hit in four career at-bats against Cortes.

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (back) will return to the lineup on Saturday for the team's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. The veteran was pulled from a game on March 17 due to back soreness but the team was hopeful he'd return this weekend. The 37-year-old will lead off for the Yankees on Saturday, a role he could see regularly this season when the team faces left-handed pitching according to manager Aaron Boone. The Phillies will deploy left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo on Saturday. The 7x All-Star owns a career .323/.423/.586 slash line against LHP, compared to a .279/.368/.488 against RHP. The former MVP has seen a dwindling batting average and power numbers the last couple of seasons with a corresponding increase in strikeout and chase rate but has been solid this spring, slashing .313/.389/.688 with three home runs. He's still a viable fantasy option as long as he's healthy and is expected to be ready for Opening Day at this point, although the days of being an elite producer are likely over.

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (back), who was previously expected to return to Grapefruit League action on Friday, said he now plans to return on Saturday. Goldschmidt's back is close to 100 percent, and he's not concerned about missing Opening Day next Thursday. As long as Goldy returns this weekend and doesn't have a setback with his back, fantasy managers with drafts early next week should feel comfortable taking him as a source of power as a corner infielder in mixed leagues. The 37-year-old former MVP is highly unlikely to return to the form he showed in St. Louis several seasons ago, but he could be in for a decent bounce-back campaign in the Bronx in 2025 if he can stay healthy. However, a back injury at the end of spring training and the fact that his strikeout and walk rates were both career-worst marks clearly show an aging slugger.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Friday is the target for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (back) to return to a Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers. He will go through baseball activities in camp on Thursday. Goldy has been dealing with a tight back this week, but it's not believed to be anything serious, and as long as he doesn't have a setback this weekend in his return to game action, he should be ready to roll next Thursday for Opening Day. After two straight seasons of a decline offensively, fantasy managers that have already rolled the dice on the 37-year-old former MVP have to be pleased by him going 10-for-32 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 13 Grapefruit League games to this point. Goldy may no longer be an elite fantasy first baseman, but if he stays healthy in 2025, he could easily bounce back in the Bronx.

The New York Yankees will give first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (back) as much time as he needs, but manager Aaron Boone expects him to return to a Grapefruit League game on Thursday or Friday. A sore back caused Goldschmidt to be pulled early from Monday's spring training game against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, but it appears it was just a precaution and that the 37-year-old veteran will be fine for Opening Day next Thursday as long as he doesn't have a setback with his back this weekend when he returns to game action. A back ailment with just over a week until Opening Day isn't what fantasy managers want to hear from an aging slugger that has shown signs of decline since winning the National League MVP award in 2022. The seven-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner had a career-high strikeout rate and career-low walk rate in 2024, although he could bounce back somewhat in the Bronx if he can stay healthy.

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (back) was pulled from Monday's Grapefruit League game early against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays with back soreness, according to The Athletic's Chris Kirschner. Goldschmidt told reporters that he's been dealing with a sore back for a few days and he's not concerned about missing Opening Day next Thursday. The 37-year-old veteran went 0-for-1 with a walk before leaving Monday's game. He should be considered day-to-day for now, but if Goldy is unable to return after a few days, he could be forced to open the season on the injured list as a precaution. The seven-time All-Star and former MVP had another down year in 2024 with the Cardinals but came into Monday's spring game with a .323 average, three home runs and 10 RBI in 12 Grapefruit League games. He could bounce back in the Bronx, but it's also possible Goldy will continue to decline.

MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will start in the team's Grapefruit League opener on Friday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. In addition to Goldy, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez and Cody Bellinger are scheduled to play. After seeing a notable decline in his offensive skills the last couple years with the St. Louis Cardinals, Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the Yankees and will be their primary first baseman in 2025. The 37-year-old former MVP had 35 homers in 2022 before dropping to 25 in 2023 and 22 last year. He had career-worst marks in strikeout rate (26.5%) and walk rate (7.2%), but a hard-hit rate just below 50% shows that he could bounce back in a better situation in the Bronx this year. RotoBaller has Goldy ranked as the No. 15 fantasy first baseman.

Free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees agreed on a one-year, $12.5 million deal on Saturday, pending a physical, according to a source. Goldschmidt was also receiving interest from the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets, but he'll instead head to the Bronx and replace Anthony Rizzo as the club's regular first baseman in 2025. The 37-year-old right-handed slugger has been an All-Star seven times and was the National League MVP in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals, but he declined significantly on offense in 2024 with a .245/.302/.414 slash line with a career-worst .716 OPS and 22 home runs in 154 games. Although Goldy was better in the second half, it's concerning that his strikeout rate rose to a career-high 26.5% while his walk rate was at a career-low 7.2%. There could be some juice left, and New York isn't a bad landing spot.

The Detroit Tigers are showing interest in free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, according to sources. The 37-year-old veteran right-handed slugger is only two years removed from winning the National League MVP award. However, his offensive prowess dropped considerably in a disappointing 2024 campaign in which he hit 22 home runs with a .716 OPS in 154 games for the St. Louis Cardinals. Because of his rapid decline at the plate, the Cardinals didn't even offer him a one-year qualifying offer, so Detroit wouldn't have to send draft compensation St. Louis' way if the were to sign Goldy. With the Cards looking to get younger in 2025, they aren't expected to pursue re-signing him. A move to Detroit wouldn't be a great landing spot from a fantasy perspective after Goldschmidt posted career-worsts in strikeout rate (26.5%) and walk rate (7.2%).

As expected, the St. Louis Cardinals did not extend a $21.05 million qualifying offer to free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. If Goldschmidt signs with another team on the open market this offseason, the Cardinals won't receive draft-pick compensation. The Cardinals reportedly don't have a ton of interest in re-signing him on a lesser deal after a disappointing 2024 campaign. The 37-year-old slugger had a second straight down year after winning National League MVP in 2022. The seven-time All-Star slashed .245/.302/.414 with a career-worst .716 OPS, 22 home runs, 65 RBI, 11 steals and 70 runs scored in 654 plate appearances and 154 games. While Goldy looks to be past his prime, there's still some power in his bat, and he could rebound with a change of scenery.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had a big day at the plate in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the San Diego Padres. Goldschmidt went 3-for-3 with two singles, a two-run homer (two RBI) and a walk. The 36-year-old is having a down year at the plate, producing career-low numbers across the board. His slash line of .231/.292/.394 is the worst over his illustrious 14-year career. Hopefully, Tuesday's performance can help him turn around what has been a disappointing season and help him finish 2024 off strong.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The veteran slugger has been quiet in August and as a result will take a seat on Sunday. The seven-time All-Star is hitting .226 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI in 123 games this season. In his absence, Alec Burleson will shift to first base and bat second against right-hander Zebby Matthews. Fantasy managers looking for help should consider adding Burleson. He's hitting .274 with 21 home runs and 70 RBI in 120 games this season.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. With Goldy getting a day off, Alec Burleson will make the start at first base and will bat second versus Rays right-hander Taj Bradley. This will be Goldschmidt's first game sitting out of the lineup since July 13. The 36-year-old veteran right-handed slugger has gone hitless over his last seven at-bats with seven strikeouts in his last five games, so it's a pretty good time for St. Louis to sit him down. The seven-time All-Star has really tanked in his sixth year in St. Louis, as he's currently slashing just .228/.288/.384 with a career-worst .672 OPS with 17 homers, 43 RBI and six steals in 110 games. It's pretty hard to believe he was an MVP for the Cards just two years ago.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt put together a big performance in Thursday's loss versus the division rival Chicago Cubs. The veteran went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and a solo home run. Goldschmidt got off to a very slow start this season, but over the last month has hit .270 with six homers, nine RBI and two stolen bases. Overall, the 36-year-old is hitting a career-low .238, but he has still shown some power with 17 homers and 42 RBI. Although he is not the MVP candidate that he has been in years past, he is still a productive contributor for managers this season and should continue to be rostered in most formats.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will start and hit seventh in the team's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cardinals have dropped Goldschmidt down in the order amid his rough slump at the plate. The veteran is hitting just .200 (16-for-80) with four home runs, four doubles, and six RBI over the past 19 games. The slugging first baseman has hit third or fourth in St. Louis' lineup for most of the year, but it seems he will be hitting seventh until he breaks out of this slump. Dropping down in the order doesn't necessarily hurt his fantasy value. However, he has been hard to trust in fantasy recently.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is getting a rare day off on Monday with the team facing the visiting Atlanta Braves. Alec Burleson will draw into the lineup at first base and will bat second against Braves rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach. This will be Goldy's first day off since May 9 and only the third time all year that he hasn't been in the starting lineup. The veteran first baseman is hitting a disappointing .231 on the season but has turned things around in June and is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he's gone 9-for-30 (.300) with two homers and four RBI in 32 plate appearances. The seven-time All-Star also has 10 homers on the season, 31 RBI, three stolen bases and 36 runs scored in 74 games. Burleson has been more productive than Goldy in 2024 and will be a nice DFS target against a rookie out of the two-hole.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt added another long ball to his recent total in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Reds. Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout. He provided his team's entire offense, sending a first-inning Nick Lodolo fastball into the left-field seats. The 36-year-old has been cold at the plate overall this season but now has three HR in his last two games and is hitting .276 with six extra-base hits in his last seven games. Age is a concern for Goldschmidt, but hopefully, he can extend his hot streak and start performing closer to the high-end fantasy option he has been throughout his career.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with two homers on Sunday, leading the Cardinals to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. Goldy drove in all four of the Cards' runs with his pair of two-run shots. After a miserable start to his season, the veteran has quietly been turning things around recently, improving his average from .190 to .222 and his OPS from .530 to .643 over the past two weeks. After tonight's performance, Goldschmidt should probably be in most starting lineups next week. If he was dropped in any shallow leagues and is still sitting on waivers, be sure to grab him now.