With Spring Training fast approaching, MLB.com will take a look at a different aspect of this year's D-backs squad each day this week. Today's topic: How's your star?
PHOENIX -- There is no doubt a learning curve for new D-backs manager Torey Lovullo when it comes to his team, but one thing Lovullo -- just like Chip Hale and Kirk Gibson before him -- can count on is having Paul Goldschmidt at first base.
Entering his sixth full season in the big leagues, Goldschmidt is a model of consistency.
"He's our anchor," Lovullo said. "He's proven that through his performance over the past several years. He's a great guy for us to build around. In our opinion we have one of the best players in the National League, and that really excites us."
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At 29 years old, Goldschmidt is still in the prime of his career, so there is no expectation that his performance will suddenly fall off.
You can argue that 2016 was a bit of a down year for Goldschmidt, but with a slash line of .297/.411/.489 it was still one that most players would love to have. And looking more closely at his season you can see that a slow start was to blame.
On May 15, Goldschmidt was hitting just .222, but over his final 528 plate appearances he slashed .320/.417/.507.
"Having watched him from the other dugout for a couple of series over the past several years I just know that he was a force offensively, he was a force on the bases, and the rest of the league recognizes that," Lovullo said.

For the production he provides, Goldschmidt also happens to be a financial bargain.
The D-backs inked Goldschmidt to a five-year, $32 million extension during Spring Training in 2013, which also includes a club option. At the time, Goldschmidt had only spent one full year in the big leagues.
The deal pays him $8.75 million in 2017 and $11 million next season. The club option for 2019 is for $14.5 million with a $2 million buyout.
Of course the same contract that makes him affordable also makes him attractive to other teams.
In the past the D-backs have refused to even discuss Goldschmidt's name in trade talks, and it doesn't appear that has changed. However, if the D-backs struggle again in 2017, it certainly seems possible that the organization would look to undergo a rebuilding process.
In that scenario, their most valuable trade chip would be Goldschmidt. For now, though, Goldschmidt is simply the D-backs' most valuable player.