A salute to Goldschmidt, the model Cardinal

This story was excerpted from John Denton’s Cardinals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

A model of sturdiness and consistency – both with his production and persona – for years, Paul Goldschmidt’s split with the Cardinals became official last week when he signed a one-year free-agent deal with the Yankees.

As one chapter ended, almost immediately it began the Cardinals’ search for their next Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt’s legacy with the Cardinals will always be complicated, but only because his teams didn’t play well enough in October. In all other ways, however, Goldschmidt was the shining example of what tomorrow’s Cardinals will need to win a 12th World Series crown someday.

Even though Goldschmidt had struggled much of the past two-plus seasons – yes, he did so even near the end of his National League Most Valuable Player season of 2022 – it was apparent that a parting of the ways was coming. Still, something felt off about the storied franchise letting a potential future Red Jacket Cards Hall of Famer walk away without a fight.

Oh sure, times change, franchises alter their trajectories, players move on and Father Time remains untied and undefeated. Still, seeing the 37-year-old Goldschmidt proverbially walk away felt wrong on so many levels.

It made good financial sense for a Cardinals team planning a “reset” for 2025, one that will be focused on creating opportunities for its young core of players. It made good sense from a playing time aspect, as catcher-turned-first baseman Willson Contreras will handle the bulk of the duties at his new position, while blossoming hitter Alec Burleson will also see time there. It even made good strategic sense, what with Goldschmidt being one of MLB’s least productive everyday hitters with runners in scoring position in 2024 and his days of impactful production seemingly teetering.

Sometimes, though, a player’s worth can’t totally be measured by a box score or an end-of-the-season stat line. Even with Goldschmidt struggling for most of 2023 and ’24, he remained the gold standard in the Cards’ clubhouse in terms of preparation and professionalism.

Tommy Edman, the former Cards Gold Glover who went on to win a World Series with the Dodgers this past October, said he might not have stuck in the big leagues had Goldschmidt not taught him the importance of a daily routine and how to properly prepare for games early in his career.

Young sluggers Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker, who will both be looked to in 2025 to provide some of the middle-of-the-order thump that Goldschmidt produced for years, had their dressing stalls in the clubhouse strategically placed near that of No. 46 in hopes that they could see his seriousness and daily dedication.

And on those nights when the Cardinals lost games in lopsided fashion – results that usually sent players running for the clubhouse doors – Goldschmidt would always be at his locker ready to answer questions for a team that had come up short. (In fact, he was more likely to be there after ugly losses than stellar performances because he loathed discussing his own accomplishments.)

To be sure, St. Louis infielders and pitchers likely shed tears when Goldschmidt departed because they know best how many runs and throwing errors the first baseman saved with the selfless defense he played in his typical fly-below-the-radar form.

Justifiably, critics will point to Goldschmidt’s playoff fizzles as a reason it was time for the Cards to move on. His 1-for-16 drought with nine strikeouts in the 2019 NLCS against the eventual World Series champion Nationals and hitting .128 with just two home runs over his final 10 playoff games – struggles that led to four straight playoff series losses – will cloud his six seasons with the Cardinals. (The same, too, can be said for the Cards legacy of star third baseman Nolan Arenado, who never won a playoff series alongside Goldschmidt in St. Louis.)

However, there was so much more good than bad from Goldschmidt, who authored many big moments, mentored many players around him and stood as a constant beacon of power and professionalism.

The Cards have had to look on in recent years as several of their former players – including Adolis García, Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty and Edman – have become playoff stars and World Series champs. The same thing could play out this October, if Goldschmidt makes one more stand with the Yankees. Maybe then, and only then, will it become apparent all that the Cards lost in letting one of their best players in franchise history walk away without a fight.