The St Louis Cardinals gave up some assets to acquire Paul Goldschmidt over the offseason and don’t want to lose him anytime soon. That’s why they’ve worked out a deal to sign him long-term.
The Cardinals and Goldschmidt are close to reaching agreement on a contract extension. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal says the deal will be for at least five years. Derrick Goold says the deal will be worth $130 million.
Goldschmidt is making $15.5 million in 2019 and was set to become a free agent. Instead of losing him, the Cardinals are trying to lock him up. A five-year deal would keep him under contract through 2024, which is his age 36 season.
Goldschmidt has been an All-Star for six straight seasons and finished top-6 in the MVP voting in four of those seasons. Despite his high strikeout totals, he still is a career .297 hitter with a .930 OPS. He also has speed for a first baseman and once stole 32 bases in a season.
Goldschmidt has typically batted second in the order for the Cardinals during Spring Training.
