This Cubs-Yankees Trade Scenario Sends Former Rival First Baseman to Chicago
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The losses of ace Gerrit Cole and slugger Giancarlo Stanton due to injuries were expected to impact the New York Yankees in a major way. The production from both Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt have filled those voids nicely and have New York out to a 37-23 record through 60 games.
The emergence of Ben Rice, however, could force the Yankees to make a near impossible decision when Stanton returns, and that decision would be to trade Paul Goldschmidt to the Chicago Cubs.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 01: Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees runs to first base during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2025 in...
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 01: Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees runs to first base during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. MoreNew York won't be able to get Rice, Stanton and Goldschmidt in the same lineup on a regular basis, so it seems that a move of some sort will have to be made. The trade of a player on a one-year deal rather than a young, promising player could be the correct move for the Yankees to make.
Goldschmidt has gotten off to an excellent start this season, with a .327 average, six home runs and .859 OPS in 220 at-bats. Even more impressive, he has done incredible work against left-handed pitchers, posting a slash line of .520/.613/.900 in 50 at-bats.
With the Cubs' current platoon situation at first base with Michael Busch and Justin Turner, Chicago would gladly take Goldschmidt's production against left-handers over Turner's. The sample size for Turner is a slash line of .268/.326/.366 in 44 at-bats.
Goldschmidt has demolished the NL Central in his career, with a slash line of .291/.388/.527 in almost 550 games played. That kind of production would be a welcome addition to a Chicago lineup that will be looking to fight off St. Louis and Milwaukee for the remainder of the season.
A blockbuster move for Goldschmidt could be what the Cubs need to pull off to help win the division and reach the postseason for the first time since 2020.
More MLB: Diamondbacks Predicted to Trade Former Cy Young Winner Amid Season-Long Struggles
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