Paul Goldschmidt
Rumors are so rife about the Diamondbacks shipping their star first baseman to parts unknown this winter that the idea has taken on elements of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Goldschmidt is 30, still solidly in his playing prime. But he is due $14.5 million and he becomes a free agent at season’s end. Couple that with a sense that Arizona, following its wild card 2017 season, may be headed in the wrong direction and the notion of the D-Backs getting what they can for him begins to make a bit of sense.
It’s not as if Goldschmidt is damaged goods. He is a six-time All-Star, he batted .290 in 2018 with a 139 OPS+, and he finished sixth in the Most Valuable Player voting.
But the Diamondbacks, following their wild-card season, got way out in front of their payroll skis in 2018. Having historically operated in the $100 million range, they went to $131 million and got a .500 team in return for their largesse. Beyond that, they are absolutely loaded with potentially costly arbitration cases: Robbie Ray, David Peralta, Jake Lamb, Brad Boxberger, Archie Bradley, Stephen Souza and a figurative cast of thousands.
In that context, moving Goldschmidt begins to make a bit of sense.