Longtime SF Giants nemesis reportedly set to hit free agency this winter

Longtime SF Giants nemesis Paul Goldschmidt collected three hits for the St. Louis Cardinals in Saturday's game. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic (subscription required), that could prove to be Goldschmidt last act in a Cardinals uniform.

Longtime SF Giants nemesis reportedly set to hit free agency this winter

Woo reports that the Cardinals have plans to reduce payroll this winter. With Goldschmidt's contract set to expire, that would seemingly confirm that the veteran slugger will be wearing a different uniform next season.

It has been an unusually down year for Goldschmidt in his age-36 season. He slashed .244/.300/.411 (98 wRC+) with 22 home runs, 64 RBI, and 70 runs in 654 plate appearances. This includes a 7.2 percent walk rate, 26.5 percent strikeout rate, and .167 ISO.

On a positive note, Goldschmidt did appear in 154 games, marking the ninth straight season in which he has appeared in at least 150 games. However, the 2024 campaign proved to be a career-low in nearly all meaningful offensive categories.

You could hardly tell on Saturday when he strung together three hits, including two doubles, and two RBI against the Giants. That type of production has been all too common of a sight for Giants fans since his career started in 2011.

In fact, one of his first big moments in the majors was hitting a home run against Tim Lincecum in just his second career game. At the time, Lincecum had two Cy Young Awards and one World Series title under his belt.

That proved to be a springboard for a career spent terrorizing pitchers, especially if they were wearing a Giants uniform. In his career against San Francisco, the right-handed bat has registered a .302/.405/.554 line with 32 home runs and 115 RBI in 585 plate appearances. Preventing him from hitting against the Giants might be reason enough to sign him.

Perhaps, the Giants might be interested in Goldschmidt as a stopgap at first base before Bryce Eldridge makes it to the majors. However, they already have both LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores under team control or under contract through next season.

At this stage in his career, Goldschmidt is likely looking for another chance to compete for a playoff spot. With the Giants missing the postseason in seven of the last eight seasons, that is not something they can genuinely offer today. If he does sign elsewhere, the Giants hope that it is not with a division rival. They have seen him enough.