How Goldy, Rice could both fit on Yanks' 2026 squad

TAMPA, Fla. – The Yankees believe Ben Rice’s offensive production will continue to trend upward in his second full big league season, including against left-handed pitching. Still, they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring Paul Goldschmidt back.

Goldschmidt, 38, has agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract, plus an additional $2 million in performance-based incentives. The deal has not been formally announced, but manager Aaron Boone addressed Goldschmidt’s return during an appearance on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio.

“It complicates it there a little bit,” Boone told hosts Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette. “But to finish off our roster with a really good player, we felt like we had to do it.”

Goldschmidt was effective against left-handed pitching last season, batting .336/.411/.570 (50-for-149) against southpaws, with 14 doubles and seven homers. His .981 OPS against lefties ranked sixth in the Majors.

Boone indicated Goldschmidt, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, could see most of his playing time against left-handers and serve as a late-inning defensive replacement. Overall, Goldschmidt batted .274/.328/.403 with 31 doubles, 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 146 games.

“With as left-handed as we are, [we wanted] to get another guy that really is still at this point in his career wearing out left-handed pitching,” Boone said. “And the defensive capability and the person in the room -- this is the best person I’ve ever managed. He’s such an amazing, amazing guy.”

The Yankees had been connected to several right-handed-hitting free agents, including outfielders Randal Grichuk and Austin Slater. Infielder Ty France was also on their radar.

“To get [Goldschmidt] back wasn’t necessarily the perfect fit. You’d probably want the right-handed outfielder with more versatility,” Boone said. “But inevitably, things happen over the course of a spring, over the course of a season. Having the better player, especially a guy who’s performed here and been a part of this culture, it was a really good day for us.”

Before Goldschmidt’s return, the Yanks had been planning to give Amed Rosario work at first base this spring. That still may happen, but more as an emergency option.

Rice batted .255/.337/.499 with 28 doubles, 26 homers and 65 RBIs in 138 games last season, appearing defensively at first base (50 games) and catcher (36 games).

The Yankees have been saying they intend to keep Rice’s catching skills sharp with bullpen sessions and defensive work this spring, though Boone said they were thinking of him more as a third catcher behind Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra.

Goldschmidt’s return may change that. Boone said when the Yanks face a tough lefty, Goldschmidt may start at first base, with Rice behind the plate.

“I don’t anticipate it affecting Rice, because we think Rice is a star,” Boone said. “We think he’s going to mash in the middle of the lineup for a long time.”