The Cleveland Guardians are rarely in the mix for MVPs. If anything, the only time you hear ‘Guardians’ and ‘MVP’ is when people talk about Jose Ramirez.
However, now that his best days are far behind him, they could actually make a run at one. At least, that’s what Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors feels. In a recent chat with his community, he pointed to the Guardians as a potential destination for Paul Goldschmidt:
“It’s a possible fit, but it’s also very possible Cleveland’s interest has cooled after Goldschmidt’s average season,” Polishuk wrote.
The 38-year-old confirmed that he plans to return for a 16th season in the majors in 2026. He’s coming off a down year with the New York Yankees.
A former seven-time All-Star and one of the best players of the past couple of decades, Goldschmidt carries a .288/.378/.504 slash line with a 63.8 bWAR and a 137 wRC+ per his career. He’s also second among active players in RBI (1,232) and third in home runs (372).
Of course, he’s no longer the player he used to be with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and even his days with the St. Louis Cardinals as the NL MVP look like a distant memory right now. Father Time spares no victims, and his offensive numbers have declined considerably in the past couple of years.
Nevertheless, he’s still a great defensive player, not to mention an experienced veteran who could be of help in times of need. If the money makes sense, and if the Guardians have a plan B and plan to use him as a bridge player for the next generation, making a run at him wouldn’t be the craziest idea.
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