A few of the Cardinals’ pending free agents were the subject of a recent reader conversation with Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Of them, Paul Goldschmidt, the 2022 NL MVP and seven-time All-Star, stands out the most. Goold stated that the team would discuss “what a return looks like” with Goldschmidt following the season. Goold continued, drawing parallels between the circumstances surrounding Goldschmidt and those surrounding longtime Cardinal Adam Wainwright towards the end of his career. Goold mentioned that Wainwright was granted free agency by the club prior to the completion of a pre-agreed pact.
The way the scenario is framed suggests that both parties have a great desire for Goldschmidt to remain in St. Louis for longer than just this season. The veteran first baseman, who turns 37 next month, has been with the Cardinals for the previous six years after joining them in a trade that ended his time with the Diamondbacks one year ahead of his expected free agency. With a.286/.373/.500 slash line (138 wRC+) going into the 2024 season, Goldschmidt is still one of the game’s most dependable offensive talents, even though his 30s with the Cardinals haven’t been as fruitful as his 20s in Arizona.
Despite his mature age, Goldschmidt seemed to be one of the most intriguing offensive prospects in the offseason going into the 2024 season because of his reliability at the plate and his recent MVP campaign in 2022. That has changed, though, as the veteran has struggled in 2024, hitting just.228/.288/.384 (91 wRC+) in 110 games this season. As most players enter their mid-to late-thirties, age-related decline becomes a concern. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to some interested clubs that Goldschmidt, at age 36, had his first offensive season below average.
Considering Goldschmidt’s difficulties this season, it’s simple to understand why a reunion could be best for everyone. After all, the Cardinals’ group of young hitters, which is mainly composed of middle infield and outfield alternatives, does not appear to have an obvious successor to Goldschmidt at first base. On the 40-man roster controlled for the 2025 season, Luken Baker is the sole first baseman. The 27-year-old has not yet made an appearance in the major leagues this year, following a cup of coffee of 33 games in 2023 during which he struck out at a rate of 31.3% and managed a wRC+ of just 79. By keeping Goldschmidt, the team would be able to maintain the services of a well-respected and decorated veteran who has recently had success. For the 2025 season, the Cardinals have a $6MM club option with a $1MM buyout on Middleton’s services. However, given that the righty missed his rookie season, it wouldn’t be shocking if St. Louis brass declined the option in an attempt to re-sign Middleton at a lesser guarantee. In 51 games with the White Sox and Yankees last season, the right-hander recorded a 3.38 ERA. He was especially effective in the Bronx, where he pitched to a 1.88 ERA and struck out 30.4% of opponents. Regarding Kittredge, the 34-year-old right-hander has pitched admirably in his 49 innings of work this season, posting a 3.12 ERA and 4.19 FIP.
