Paul Goldschmidt’s durability could make him Yankees first base anomaly

TAMPA — At 37, Paul Goldschmidt is the oldest player on the Yankees.

But he may be one of their most durable, which is just one of the attributes the Yankees were banking on staying true when they signed the veteran first baseman to a one-year, $12.5 million contract in December.

Goldschmidt has played at least 150 games in each of the last nine seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened 2020) — a threshold no Yankees first baseman has reached since Mark Teixeira in 2011.

If the former NL MVP can build on the adjustments he made in the second half of last season, after a rough first half, he could give the Yankees the kind of production and consistency they have been missing at the position.

“He’s in impeccable shape, he’s that baseball gym rat,” manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field. “He’s out there working on different things in the field right now that are little things we think can help him even there. He drinks up baseball.

“He really wants to be coached, wants to be pushed, wants to learn little things he can apply to his game. He’s been a student of the game his entire career as well as being really talented. I’m really excited about him. We’ll try to get him ready and look forward to what he’s going to provide on both sides of the ball.”

Goldschmidt said Tuesday that his acclimation to the Yankees has been “fairly smooth” after arriving in Tampa early to start that process.

Now the focus has turned to picking up where he left off last season.

He started the year batting .226 with a .669 OPS through his first 122 games before batting .328 with a .908 OPS over his final 32 games.

He and the Yankees believe the mechanical adjustments he made late can carry over into this season.

“My individual focus is continuing to hone those habits offensively,” Goldschmidt said. “It’s been good. I feel like I’m in a good place.”

“The truth was, I just didn’t play well for … a good part of last year. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, I was doing everything I could. Took a ton of swings and all that. But this game’s hard, the pitchers are good, and if you get off by a little bit, it can go downhill. Hopefully, it’ll be a good thing in my career, getting to learn from that.”

If that is the case, then Goldschmidt will have a chance to eclipse 150 games for yet another season.

“Paul is just a pro’s pro,” said Cody Bellinger, who has seen plenty of Goldschmidt in the National League. “That’s a guy that’s been consistent throughout his whole career — defensively, sneaky really good baserunner, steals bases, the offense speaks for itself. A guy that expects a lot out of himself. I expect really good things. I expect Paul to be Paul. He’s a tremendous player.”