Paul Goldschmidt Confirms Desire to Play Next Season Amidst Free Agency and Potential MLB Lockout
The veteran first baseman, whose contract with the Yankees expires, expressed his commitment to competing while facing uncertainty in the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Paul Goldschmidt, 39, has indicated his intention to continue playing baseball next season as he approaches free agency. His comments come in the wake of the New York Yankees' American League Division Series (ALDS) sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays, which concluded the team's season. "I love competing," Goldschmidt told The Post's Jon Heyman, signaling his ongoing passion for the sport.
The veteran first baseman is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the World Series. His future playing status, however, is complicated by the looming expiration of Major League Baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on December 1. A potential work stoppage could freeze offseason activities, including player-team negotiations, and casts uncertainty over the start of the 2027 season.
Goldschmidt joined the Yankees on a one-year, $4 million deal for the 2026 season, a move that mirrored the team's strategy of retaining players from the previous year's roster. This past season, the seven-time All-Star and 2022 National League MVP served primarily as a platoon player for the Yankees. He recorded a .765 OPS with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs in 105 games.
During the Yankees' decisive Game 3 loss to the Rays, Goldschmidt entered as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning, reaching first base on an error. However, the Yankees were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, with subsequent batters failing to advance the runner. Goldschmidt concluded the postseason without a hit in six at-bats.
Throughout his 16-year career, Goldschmidt has built a resume that could lead to Hall of Fame consideration, with a World Series ring being the notable missing achievement.