MILWAUKEE -- So strictly disciplined that he refuses to allow himself to think too far into the future -- a lesson taught to him years ago by his father, David -- Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt probably hasn¡¯t even contemplated his 37th birthday being just eight days away.

A free agent at the end of what is likely to be his least productive MLB season, Goldschmidt doesn¡¯t know what the future holds for him even when queried about it. However, there is one thing that Goldschmidt is steadfast about as it relates to a somewhat murky 2025 season.

¡°Yeah, I want to play next year; I want to continue to play,¡± Goldschmidt told MLB.com, brushing aside thoughts of a frustrating 2024 possibly pushing him into retirement. ¡°Actually, I haven¡¯t let any of my thoughts get past that statement right there. I owe it to this team and organization to give everything to this year, and that¡¯s 100 percent where my thoughts are. But, yes, I want to keep playing.¡±

The 2022 National League MVP, Goldschmidt -- who doubled in a career-best fifth straight game on Monday while the Cardinals lost, 9-3, to the Brewers -- has seen the kind of regression that has some wondering if he can stomach the thought of diminished production in the late innings of his career.

Already, it is a career that will likely land the slugger -- who's one home run shy of tying Joe DiMaggio for 86th in MLB history -- in the Hall of Fame someday. But is a 2024 season where he¡¯s hit a career-worst .244, seen his on-base percentage drop 100 points from 2022 and witnessed his RBI total cut in half from his greatest seasons a blip or the beginning of a serious slide?

¡°I still feel [quick at the plate], but the stats don¡¯t lie because I haven¡¯t performed the way I wanted,¡± said Goldschmidt, who has just four extra-base hits and no sacrifice flies with runners in scoring position this season. ¡°There are some stats that show that I¡¯m still swinging hard and running fast, but there¡¯s no denying I haven¡¯t played well.

¡°After the year, I¡¯ll make more [adjustments]. Sometimes, it just takes time, and I think I¡¯ve created some bad habits with my swing and I haven¡¯t been able to break those. One of the things I¡¯ve done in my career is be consistent. I haven¡¯t had maybe the top-end talent of some guys, but I have been consistent. I think I¡¯m still capable of that. That¡¯s on me, and there are no excuses.¡±

The seven-time All-Star extended his hitting streak to nine games on Monday. He has come alive at the plate of late, having 17 hits in his last 34 ABs with seven doubles, a homer and six RBIs. He is the first Cardinal to double in five straight games since Matt Carpenter did it over a six-game stretch in June of 2017.

¡°He¡¯s been really good over this last stretch, and we¡¯ve seen him driving the baseball, taking his knocks and it¡¯s been really productive,¡± Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said on Monday. ¡°I like where he¡¯s at and we¡¯re getting closer to seeing the Goldy we¡¯ve gotten used to for a while now.¡±

Though he¡¯s discouraged by how the season has played out for both himself and a Cards club that hoped for a return to the playoffs, Goldschmidt said there are signs that he can get back to the numbers he posted previously. His average bat speed [72.4 mph] still ranks in MLB's 60th percentile, per Baseball Savant.

Also, his hard-hit rate (49.3 percent) and his average exit velocity (91.3 mph] are better than in his 2022 MVP season (47.4 percent and 90.8 mph). Conversely, his chase, whiff and strikeout rates have spiked, while his walk rate is off by nearly 5 percent from 2022.

Is there enough thump left in Goldschmidt¡¯s bat for the Cardinals to re-sign him this offseason and hope that a return to form can lead to them to a return as contenders? After all, younger and cheaper options at first base in Alec Burleson and Luken Baker will be available.

¡°I love Paul Goldschmidt,¡± Marmol said twice when asked if he wants the clubhouse leader back in 2025.

As for Goldschmidt himself?

¡°I want to keep playing, but I haven¡¯t thought about next year,¡± he said. ¡°For me, dedication is trying to help us win now and then I¡¯ll worry about the future when the time comes.¡±