It seems all but certain that Paul Goldschmidt will headline the list of departures for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason. The key question for John Mozeliak appears to be how many other familiar faces, such as Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Ryan Helsley, might also be on the move as trade rumors continue to swirl.
Goldschmidt, however, won’t be leaving via trade. The 37-year-old first baseman, who won NL MVP honors with the Cardinals in 2022, is hitting free agency. With Chaim Bloom entering the Cardinals’ front office and following two consecutive disappointing, postseason-less seasons, the expectation is that the team will focus on shedding payroll rather than pursuing significant additions.
This signals a tough message for Cardinals fans and serves as a harsh critique of Mozeliak and the organization for their mismanagement. Letting a player of Goldschmidt’s caliber walk — especially given the projected contract he’s expected to command — is a bitter pill to swallow.
If the team were competitive, they could easily afford such a deal. But since contention is not on the horizon, the Cardinals are opting not to make the financial commitment, highlighting the challenging state of the franchise.
Cardinals failures paved way for Paul Goldschmidt departure
Wherever you look, Paul Goldschmidt seems poised to be both highly sought after and relatively affordable on the market. Jim Bowden of The Athletic projects a one-year, $15 million deal for the veteran first baseman, a figure echoed by MLBTradeRumors. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel estimates a slightly higher price of one-year, $18 million, but also identifies Goldschmidt as a worthwhile investment at that cost.
When compared to projections like $24 million AAV for Christian Walker or $26.5 million AAV for Pete Alonso, Goldschmidt’s potential deal offers tremendous value. For a proven player with strong underlying metrics hinting at a bounce-back in 2025, his short-term, cost-effective contract should be enticing for contending teams.
But the Cardinals are no longer in that category. All signs point to a teardown and rebuild, a bitter reality for a franchise that was supposed to contend. Letting Goldschmidt, a fan-favorite and modern St. Louis legend, walk away despite his affordability only underscores the organization’s current struggles.
There’s no way to sugarcoat the situation for the Cardinals. The past two seasons have been disastrous on the field, and the immediate future looks bleak. Goldschmidt’s projected contract, which should have been manageable under better circumstances, now serves as a harsh reminder of how far the franchise has fallen — and how much further it might still fall.
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