SF Giants reportedly surveying the market for help at first base

One first base option is reportedly off the table after the New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million deal with Paul Goldschmidt. However, the SF Giants showed interest in Goldschmidt, signaling they could add a first baseman this winter.

SF Giants reportedly surveying the market for help at first base

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Giants were among the teams interested in the 2022 NL MVP. He mentioned the Yankees, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, and Washington Nationals as other suitors. At the end of the day, he chose the Yankees.

Goldschmidt's career began with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011. He immediately established himself as a villain to Giants fans as he blasted his first career home run in just his second game in the majors with Tim Lincecum on the mound. That set the stage for how the right-handed bat would torture Giants pitchers for the next decade.

Incredibly, Goldschmidt has slashed .302/.405/.554 with 32 home runs and 115 RBI in 166 career games against San Francisco. The Diamondbacks shipped him to the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-player deal after the 2018 season. This did the Giants a huge favor as it meant that they would no longer see Goldschmidt 19 times per season.

The 37-year-old has seen his numbers dip since earning the 2022 NL MVP Award after posting a .981 OPS with 35 home runs and 115 RBI in 651 plate appearances. That said, he still has a knack for hitting against the Giants. In his penultimate game with the Cardinals, Goldschmidt tallied three hits, including two doubles, and two RBI in a 6-5 loss to the Giants.

San Francisco already has a couple of options at first base in LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores. Adding Goldschmidt would have bumped one or both players off the roster. While Flores and Wade Jr. have missed time in recent seasons, Goldschmidt has been one of the more durable players in baseball.

Goldschmidt is the second first baseman to come off of the board in as many days with Christian Walker joining the Houston Astros on a three-year, $60 million deal. Pete Alonso, Carlos Santana, and Josh Bell are some of the remaining options in free agency. While the Giants do not have an obvious need at first base, it was a weak spot on the roster in 2024 and they should look to upgrade it for 2025.