HOT-NEWS; Aaron Judge Noted As Key Factor For Paul Goldschmidt’s Shocking Move from Cardinals to Yankees.

As the Major League Baseball offseason began, the defending American League champion New York Yankees had several areas to address in order to improve on their 2024 performance. Among the top priorities was the first base position.

Last season, no team in baseball received worse production from first base than the Yankees. To fix this, they brought in former MVP Paul Goldschmidt, who signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal with New York. The former St. Louis Cardinal aims to win his first World Series title with the Yankees.

It’s notable that Goldschmidt took a pay cut to join the Yankees, a contrast to Juan Soto’s free agency choice.

In his introductory press conference, Goldschmidt praised his new teammate, Aaron Judge, acknowledging that Judge’s remarkable performance in recent years was a key factor in his decision to leave St. Louis for the New York market.

“Who wouldn’t want to play with Judge?” Goldschmidt said. “I got to meet him a few years ago, and we’ve kept in touch. He’s one of the best hitters in the world, maybe the best, and as a right-handed power hitter, I’m really excited to play alongside him.”

With Judge, the two-time AL MVP, and Goldschmidt now together, Yankees fans are hopeful that the first baseman will find more consistent production at the plate compared to his last season in St. Louis.Teaming up with one of the best right-handed hitters in the game is a great way to regain form, and Goldschmidt’s high praise for Judge speaks volumes. He sees the potential in the Yankees and, with Judge leading the team as captain, New York is set to compete again in a weaker American League.

Although Goldschmidt is aging, he won an MVP in the last five years. With the addition of Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs, the Yankees will begin 2025 with four former MVPs on their roster.

For the 37-year-old Goldschmidt, New York offers a perfect environment to find his rhythm late in his career. The Yankees have “The Judge,” one of the best pitching duos in the majors, and an opportunity to become the steady, reliable first baseman the team lacked last season.