Thursday, June 11

Welcome to this edition of the Yankees Beat newsletter. This edition was written by Henry Palattella.

CLEVELAND -- Paul Goldschmidt has been through a lot in his MLB career. Although that sentiment would likely be true for any player with 16 years of big league experience, Goldschmidt’s career stands out more than the average veteran’s. 

He made his MLB debut a little less than two years after being drafted (he still has never played at Triple-A) and has since become a $130-million man, trade piece, MVP winner and Yankees fan favorite. 

But this year in pinstripes brought him something he’d never had in his career -- a part-time role. 

Coming into 2026, Goldschmidt had played in 145+ games in 13 of the 14 162-game seasons he had fully participated in. He was as close to an everyday option as you could find in MLB. 

But that’s changed this season. While Goldschmidt decided to re-sign with the Yankees on a one-year, $4 million contract, he did so knowing he’d be a part-time player.

And for the first month of the season, that was the case. Goldschmidt played in just 10 games in March/April, the second-lowest total of games that he’s played in a full calendar month since he fractured his left hand in his first August plate appearance in 2014.

That role change didn’t change his preparation. 

“I just didn’t overthink it,” Goldschmidt said when asked how he handled the change. “I’ve just tried to do my normal routine.” 

It didn’t go unnoticed.

“He’s been doing it for a long way, so he knows how to prepare,” manager Aaron Boone said. “There aren’t enough good things I can say about him and his makeup.”

That routine helped him navigate yet another change at the start of May when he was thrust back into an everyday role thanks to injuries to Giancarlo Stanton, Jasson Domínguez and, more recently, Aaron Judge. 

That increase in playing time has kicked off one of the most productive periods of his career. He entered Wednesday with a .306/.374/.550 slashline with seven home runs and 23 RBIs in 31 games since the start of May. 

“He’s a Hall of Famer,” starting pitcher Will Warren said. “Thirty-eight [years old] and still doing it. It’s been a lot of fun to watch.” 

Cody Bellinger got a first-hand look at Goldschmidt at the height of his powers when they were division rivals in the NL West from 2017-18 while Bellinger was a Dodger and Goldschmidt with Arizona. Now, Bellinger is in his second year sharing a clubhouse with Goldschmidt while he defies Father Time. 

“He’s unbelievable, man,” Bellinger said. “He’s been in the league for so long and his approach is so good.”

While Goldschmidt’s role could change again soon since Domínguez and Stanton are close to making their returns, he’s keeping his focus on the things he can control. 

“I have no idea what the future is going to hold; I don’t really even think about it,” he said. “I just try to help us win. It’s impossible to predict the future.”

On Aug. 2, 2011, Paul Goldschmidt hit his first big league home run in his second career game for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Which pitcher did it come against? 

A) Clayton Kershaw 

B) Ryan Vogelsong

C) Cliff Lee

D) Tim Lincecum

• Spencer Jones said he got the “proverbial monkey off his back” when he hit his first career home run on Wednesday. Read more >>

• Jazz Chisholm Jr. can’t stop hitting home runs with Aaron Judge’s bat. Read More >>

• Yanks wrap up road sweep in Cleveland. Read More >>

• Will Leitch ranked every 2025 postseason team’s chances to make the postseason this year, and the Yankees were in an interesting spot . Read More >>

“I’ve said it 1,000 times, but it’s my gift from God. It’s just something that I do that I don’t really understand. Just something that I naturally have, and watching guys swing over it or under it is an amazing thing. It’s His gift. He gave it to me, and I’m really grateful for it” --Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz describing his splitter. Batters have hit just .121 against the pitch this season, and he threw it 14 times during his five-out save against Cleveland on Tuesday.

D. Tim Lincecum

Goldschmidt jumped all over a fastball that Lincecum left over the middle and sent it deep into the left field seats at then-AT&T Park. It was one of seven career home runs Goldschmidt hit off “The Freak,” three more than he has hit off of any other pitcher.

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