Paul Goldschmidt will play for the St. Louis Cardinals next season. The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed with the Redbirds on a trade of their All-Star-First-Baseman. In return, the D’backs get a package of three players and a draft pick.
Goldschmidt is reinforcing the Cardinals on the hunt for the postseason: the so proud franchise had missed the playoffs in the last three years, 2018 with a very close balance of 88-74 and 2.5 games behind a wildcard place.
With the 31-year-old, you now get an extremely consistent first baseman who convinces both offensively and defensively: Goldschmidt has hit an average of 30 home runs in the last six years and at the same time won three Gold Gloves. Last season he finished sixth in the MVP voting with 33 home runs.
The Diamondbacks (82-80) get for their best player Pitcher Luke Weaver, a former first round pick, and catcher talent Carson Kelly. Plus Minor Leaguer Andy Young and a draft pick. “Paul is perhaps the best player in the National League,” said Arizona’s GM Mike Hazen. “He was the face of our franchise, we didn’t make it easy for ourselves.”
In the end it was probably decisive that the Diamondbacks did not expect to be able to agree on a new contract with Goldschmidt. The contract for the slugger expires after the 2019 season. For the coming season the Cardinals will pay him 14.5 million dollars and hope for a subsequent contract extension.