Time will tell what the Yankees do at first base long-term, but Goldschmidt can serve as a veteran stopgap in the meantime as he and the team hope for a bounce-back from the 2022 National League MVP. He can also be a mentor to one of the Yankees’ future options, Ben Rice.

Paul Goldschmidt went through a miserable first four months last year, including a career-worst 0-for-32 slide that ended with a May 11 ninth-inning single to avoid his first five-strikeout game.

The first baseman was signed after Juan Soto jumped to the Mets, and also brought in were lefty Max Fried, closer Devin Williams, reliever Fernando Cruz and Cody Bellinger.