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Arizona Diamondbacks rumors: Landing Spots For Goldschmidt

By Manny Gómez

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 23: Paul Golddschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts after hitting a foul ball during the bottom of the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on September 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 23: Paul Golddschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts after hitting a foul ball during the bottom of the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on September 23, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 25: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks gets ready to make a play against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on September 25, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Twins

On Tuesday, Jon Morosi reported that the Minnesota Twins and D’Backs have already engaged in “preliminary” trade talks for Goldy.


Apparently, after a disappointing 2018 season, the Twins still feel that they are a playoff team. They were after all in the postseason just one year prior, and if not for a Didi Gregorious home run to tie the Wild Card game, the Twins were looking at defeating the Yankees in the Bronx.

So, who can blame Twins for feeling this way?

The AL Central was by far the worst division in MLB in 2018, and the first place finishers – Cleveland Indians – have already waved the white flag, announcing that everyone but Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez are available to be traded.

The question then becomes: is Goldschmidt enough to make the Twins a serious contender?

Well, according to Morosi’s tweet, part of the reason why the Twins are so interested in Goldy is because they ranked 5th worse in OPS at 1B in MLB. The Twins had a combined .707 OPS in 2018 and Goldschmidt, after a the slowest start of his career, finished with a .922 OPS.

Goldy to the Twins would absolutely make the twins a contender in the Central again. This is a no-brainer.

Tampa Bay Rays

With the news that the Tampa Bay designated C.J. Cron for assignment late Tuesday night, the Rays skyrocketed to the “Realistic Options” side of this short list for Paul Goldschmidt. Cron was by far the Rays best hitter in 2018, hitting 30 HR with a respectable .493 SLG.

And with the Rays finishing their 2018 campaign with a record of 90-72, which would have most definitely been good enough to take the Central, there is hope that the Rays can sneak in to the 2019 postseason via the Wild Card.

Jake Bauers took over the realms at first for Tampa Bay in 2018, and while he wasn’t terrible, he definitely didn’t look big league ready. Adding Goldschmidt, who the Rays wouldn’t have to commit long term to given that he will become an unrestricted free agent next season, would solidify the position and make the Rays a real contender not only in the Wild Card, but in the AL East as well.

The Rays are not the type of team that looks actively to add stars the likes of Paul Goldschmidt, but Goldy isn’t a big city type of player anyway. The Delaware native is one of baseball’s quietest superstars, stringing together one of the best stretches for a first baseman ever.

This too is a match made in heaven.

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