D-backs look to rest Goldy more next season

SAN FRANCISCO -- It might not make him happy, but it sounds like D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is going to get more days off in 2016.

"His numbers obviously tailed off," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Physically, you have to wear down. It's 162 games and he plays almost every day. We'll have a lot of discussions next year on where we can strategically give him days off physically."

Aside from missing a pair of games at the beginning of September for the birth of his son, Goldschmidt has only had one full game off this year.

Goldschmidt was out of the lineup for the first time on May 21, 39 games into the season, but he pinch-hit and went in on defense in the eighth inning of that game. His first full game off came Aug. 6, after 106 games.

• Is Goldschmidt #AwardWorthy? Vote now for Best Major Leaguer

Taking Goldschmidt out of the lineup is a hard thing for Hale to do given not just his offense, but defense and leadership as well. Still after watching Goldschmidt hit .244 since Aug. 1 (entering Sunday), Hale said the team will need to find a reliable backup at the position for 2016.

Third baseman Jake Lamb has played there at times, as has outfielder Yasmany Tomas, but neither has much experience at the position.

"We probably need to find somebody who's a little more comfortable playing first," Hale said. "It could be maybe Aaron [Hill] working on that in Spring Training, getting comfortable playing first."