Should the Colorado Rockies explore signing Paul Goldschmidt?

Colorado Rockies news and links for Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Since the Colorado Rockies have not yet revealed the team’s manager for the 2025 season, let’s turn our attention to some roster speculation.

Katie Woo broke the news during the last week of the season: The St. Louis Cardinals would not attempt to bring back former 2022 National League Most Valuable Player Paul Goldschmidt. He has finished a five-year, $130 million contract.

To be clear, the 37-year-old first baseman is well past his seven-time All-Star form, but he’s made clear that he intends to play in 2025.

This raises an interesting question: Should the Rockies attempt to sign him on a short-term deal?

It’s been a minute since we’ve thought about Goldy. Can you provide a refresher?

I can do that.

He attended The Woodlands High School in Texas before playing some college baseball for the Texas State Bobcats. In 2009, he was drafted in the eighth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made his MLB debut in 2011 and was traded to the Cardinals during the 2018-19 offseason.

It’s safe to say he’s been very successful. During his eight years with the D-backs, he slashed .297/.398/.532 for a .930 OPS (145 OPS+). He also hit 209 home runs. Goldschmidt slowed down in St. Louis but not much. There he slashed .278/.360/.483 for an .843 OPS (130 OPS+) and 153 home runs.

How did he do at Coors Field? Pretty well.

Goldschmidt has played 78 games in the Mile High City. In those games, he’s slashed. 329/.416/.605 for an eye-popping 1.022 OPS (128 OPS+). He’s also hit 18 home runs and 26 doubles.

It’s worth pointing out that 2024 was not his best season, and 2024 will mark his worst career season overall (.242/.302/.412). However, this improved substantially since the All-Star Break (.270/.322/.485). So whatever was bothering him early seems to have sorted itself out — and even during a bad season, he hit 22 home runs.

Weird fact: Goldschmidt has never received a qualifying offer since he signed extensions with the D-backs and Cardinals.

Wait. Are you seriously suggesting the Rockies sign Goldschmidt?

I’m saying it’s an idea worth exploring.

Even though 2024 was not especially remarkable for Goldschmidt, consider how his 2024 numbers compare with those of other Rockies infielders based on FanGraphs data:

FanGraphs

And that’s with half his games at Busch Stadium. Presumably, those numbers would improve if he played 82 games at Coors Field.

He could be useful in a number of ways.

First, he could fit into Charlie Blackmon’s spot at designated hitter. (Yes, that spot has been set aside for Kris Bryant, but his health for 162 games remains questionable.)

Second, he could offer a right-handed platoon to Michael Toglia at first base. This season, Toglia logged 89 consecutive starts at first base. On one hand, that’s good. It’s a sign of the Rockies letting the kids play, and Toglia clearly benefited from getting regular at-bats. But it also raises the questions of who could step in and give Toglia a day off.

Maybe that will be Kris Bryant. Maybe the Rockies will go back to platooning players there who are not actually first basemen. (Hello, Hunter Goodman and Nolan Jones!) As for prospects, the Rockies have not yet shown an interest in promoting Grant Lavigne (No. 27 PuRP); Sterlin Thompson (No. 17 PuRP) is listed as a shortstop; and where Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP) will play has yet to be determined.

But Goldschmidt would provide them with a seasoned first baseman who could DH and give Toglia a day off. Moreover, he might be interested in signing a short-term contract.

He would also bring some experience to a young team, taking the spot in the clubhouse that belonged to Charlie Blackmon.

What are we talking here in terms of money?

That’s a good question — and the early free-agent estimates aren’t out yet. But a contract would surely be less than the $13 million the Rockies paid Blackmon in 2024.

Look, the Rockies are going to bring in a couple of veterans. They just are because that’s how this organization works. When those discussion begin, they should include Paul Goldschmidt.

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The week on the internet

Last night, Rockies catching consultant Jerry Weinstein announced he was leaving the organization:

This sounds more like a decision on Weinstein’s part rather than a move by the Rockies front office.

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Arizona Fall League: What to expect from Gabriel Hughes, Ryan Ritter, and other Rockies Prospects (Rockies Insider with Patrick Lyons) — This week, Patrick Lyons previews the Arizona Fall League for Rockies fans. (There will be a number of players to watch.)

Upcoming free agents for every team |MLB.com

Hot Stove season is just around the corner. Here’s a nice primer that provides a sense of the players who will be on the free-agent market.

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