Goldy looks to guide younger Yanks: 'Somebody taught it to me'

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NEW YORK -- The Yankees are banking on Paul Goldschmidt to add power to their lineup, a quality they lacked at first base for most of last season. A bonus is that the veteran also figures to lend leadership, mentoring some of the club’s younger players.

Now 37, Goldschmidt recalled how he was helped by those relationships early in his career. Two weeks into Goldschmidt’s Major League service in August 2011, the Diamondbacks signed Lyle Overbay as a free agent, looking for a more experienced first baseman to pair with the up-and-coming rookie.

Instead of becoming rivals for playing time, Goldschmidt and Overbay became friends. On occasion, Overbay (who would go on to play for the Yankees in 2013) shared batting tips, but most of their on-field work together came defensively. Some small piece of Goldschmidt’s four Gold Glove Awards can probably be credited to Overbay’s tutelage.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help guys,” Goldschmidt said. “I had so many great players that helped me when I was a young player. I’m forever grateful to those guys. They sped up the learning curve.”

Goldschmidt said Overbay also assisted him with off-the-field concerns, guiding a young player finding his way in the Majors; Goldschmidt has called Overbay “the best teammate you could ever ask for.”

It is easy to envision Goldschmidt filling that role this year; certainly with catcher/first baseman Ben Rice, who will enter Spring Training competing for a role on the roster after an up-and-down debut campaign that included a three-homer game against the Red Sox.

Other youngsters, like catcher Austin Wells, shortstop Anthony Volpe, infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera and outfielder Jasson Domínguez might also benefit from Goldschmidt’s presence.

“Anything I know about baseball or life, somebody taught it to me,” Goldschmidt said. “So if there’s any of those experiences I’ve gone through that I can help any other players, it’s something I’ll try to do. I’m excited to do it.”

The 2022 National League MVP, Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yanks last month. He is coming off a 2024 campaign with the Cardinals in which he slashed .245/.302/.414 (98 OPS+) with 33 doubles, 22 homers and 65 RBIs.

Those numbers represented career lows for Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He and his new employer are gambling that a shift to the Bronx will permit Goldschmidt to reach his past performance levels.

“I don’t know how long I want to play. I want to play at a high level,” Goldschmidt said. “That was frustrating to not play well [in 2024], but I still felt the feeling was like, ‘Man, I’m better than this.’ That was kind of my feeling last year, but you’ve got to improve it. If you don’t perform, then you’re not going to be playing. That’s just the truth in this game and in life.”

Goldschmidt said he watched the Yankees from afar -- especially during their 2024 postseason run -- and expects that the ’25 version can get back to the promised land.

“Without having talked to too many guys, I just have to assume from the World Series last year, [the mindset is] to try to do it again,” Goldschmidt said. “Everyone starts 0-0, so it’s a long road, and don’t look too far ahead. But the Yankees always have that expectation: the fans, ownership, and the whole organization. It’s to win the World Series.”