MILWAUKEE -- So strictly disciplined that he refuses to allow himself to think too far into the future -- a lesson taught to him years ago by his father, David -- Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt probably hasn’t even contemplated his 37th birthday being just eight days away.

A free agent at the end of what is likely to be his least productive MLB season, Goldschmidt doesn’t know what the future holds for him even when queried about it. However, there is one thing that Goldschmidt is steadfast about as it relates to a somewhat murky 2025 season.

“Yeah, I want to play next year; I want to continue to play,” Goldschmidt told MLB.com, brushing aside thoughts of a frustrating 2024 possibly pushing him into retirement. “Actually, I haven’t let any of my thoughts get past that statement right there. I owe it to this team and organization to give everything to this year, and that’s 100 percent where my thoughts are. But, yes, I want to keep playing.”

The 2022 National League MVP, Goldschmidt -- who doubled in a career-best fifth straight game on Monday while the Cardinals lost, 9-3, to the Brewers -- has seen the kind of regression that has some wondering if he can stomach the thought of diminished production in the late innings of his career.

Already, it is a career that will likely land the slugger -- who's one home run shy of tying Joe DiMaggio for 86th in MLB history -- in the Hall of Fame someday. But is a 2024 season where he’s hit a career-worst .244, seen his on-base percentage drop 100 points from 2022 and witnessed his RBI total cut in half from his greatest seasons a blip or the beginning of a serious slide?

“I still feel [quick at the plate], but the stats don’t lie because I haven’t performed the way I wanted,” said Goldschmidt, who has just four extra-base hits and no sacrifice flies with runners in scoring position this season. “There are some stats that show that I’m still swinging hard and running fast, but there’s no denying I haven’t played well.

“After the year, I’ll make more [adjustments]. Sometimes, it just takes time, and I think I’ve created some bad habits with my swing and I haven’t been able to break those. One of the things I’ve done in my career is be consistent. I haven’t had maybe the top-end talent of some guys, but I have been consistent. I think I’m still capable of that. That’s on me, and there are no excuses.”

The seven-time All-Star extended his hitting streak to nine games on Monday. He has come alive at the plate of late, having 17 hits in his last 34 ABs with seven doubles, a homer and six RBIs. He is the first Cardinal to double in five straight games since Matt Carpenter did it over a six-game stretch in June of 2017.

“He’s been really good over this last stretch, and we’ve seen him driving the baseball, taking his knocks and it’s been really productive,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said on Monday. “I like where he’s at and we’re getting closer to seeing the Goldy we’ve gotten used to for a while now.”

Though he’s discouraged by how the season has played out for both himself and a Cards club that hoped for a return to the playoffs, Goldschmidt said there are signs that he can get back to the numbers he posted previously. His average bat speed [72.4 mph] still ranks in MLB's 60th percentile, per Baseball Savant.

Also, his hard-hit rate (49.3 percent) and his average exit velocity (91.3 mph] are better than in his 2022 MVP season (47.4 percent and 90.8 mph). Conversely, his chase, whiff and strikeout rates have spiked, while his walk rate is off by nearly 5 percent from 2022.

Is there enough thump left in Goldschmidt’s bat for the Cardinals to re-sign him this offseason and hope that a return to form can lead to them to a return as contenders? After all, younger and cheaper options at first base in Alec Burleson and Luken Baker will be available.

“I love Paul Goldschmidt,” Marmol said twice when asked if he wants the clubhouse leader back in 2025.

As for Goldschmidt himself?

“I want to keep playing, but I haven’t thought about next year,” he said. “For me, dedication is trying to help us win now and then I’ll worry about the future when the time comes.”