Paul Goldschmidt ready to do 'whatever I can' to help Ben Rice, other young Yankees

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News on Jan 3, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — About 18 minutes into his introductory Zoom call on Thursday, new Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt casually acknowledged that he’s getting toward the end of his career.

While the 37-year-old declined to put a number on how many seasons he has left in the game, he inked a one-year deal with the Bombers, is preparing for his 15th MLB season, and is coming off the worst year of his career with the Cardinals. While he voluntarily noted that the clock is ticking, he didn’t have to say so for it to be known.

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.

A catcher by trade, Rice spent a lot of time learning first base last season before filling in for the injured Anthony Rizzo as a rookie. While the Yankees are still high on Rice’s receiving skills, they already have a lefty-swinging backstop in Austin Wells. Sticking at first could be a better long-term fit for Rice and the Yankees, and Goldschmidt could help him become better acquainted with the position after the 25-year-old looked unfamiliar at times last season.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help guys,” Goldschmidt, a four-time Gold Glover, said when asked about Rice. “I had so many great players that helped me when I was a young player, so I’m forever grateful for those guys. They sped up the learning curve. So whether it’s him or any other player.”

One of those guys was Lyle Overbay, who played for the Diamondbacks as Goldschmidt began his big league career with Arizona in 2011. Overbay also happened to play for the Yankees in 2013, a season that saw first base become a revolving door for the team.

Instead of fighting for playing time, the older Overbay became close with Goldschmidt on the D-backs. Overbay was particularly helpful on defense, though the two also talked hitting and life off the field.

“He was the best teammate you could ever ask for,” Goldschmidt told MLB.com in 2014.

Now Goldschmidt has a chance to pay it forward with Rice, though it remains to be seen how present the younger ballplayer will be once spring training wraps. With Goldschmidt locked in at first and Cody Bellinger, Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu capable of playing the position, Rice could return to the minors until needed.

However, there are other young Yankees that Goldschmidt can take under his wing, much like Rizzo did during his tenure with the club. That group includes Wells, Cabrera, Anthony Volpe and Jasson Domínguez.

“Anything I know about baseball or life, someone else taught me,” the seasoned Goldschmidt said. “So if there’s any of those experiences I’ve gone through that can help any other players, it’s something I’ll try to do, and I’m excited to do it.”

Squid Game Season 2

The Yankees brought a familiar face back on Friday, signing Andrew Velazquez to a minor league deal. The pact, first reported by the YES Network’s Jack Curry, includes an invitation to big league camp.

Velazquez, 30, is a .189 career hitter in the big leagues, but the Bronx-born utilityman stole some headlines when he appeared in 28 games for his hometown team in 2021. Filling in at shortstop for an injured Gleyber Torres, Velazquez recorded a four-RBI series against the Red Sox, homered against the Twins, made a few pretty plays and swiped a handful of bases. However, the Fordham Prep product hit just .224 overall.

Velazquez, nicknamed Squid, went on to play for the Angels in 2022 and 2023 after suiting up for Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Baltimore earlier in his career. He hit 16 homers and stole 33 bases for the Braves’ Triple-A team in 2024 and is coming off a stint in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Velazquez has played second, short, third and all three outfield positions in the majors. He could provide some infield depth, as former top prospect Oswald Peraza will be exposed to waivers if he doesn’t make the Yankees’ roster out of spring training.