Jordan Walker could be the reason the St. Louis Cardinals are comfortable moving on from veteran infielder Paul Goldschmidt this offseason.
Despite St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol’s recent praise for Paul Goldschmidt, the veteran first baseman’s future with the team remains uncertain.
Goldschmidt, who will turn 37 on September 10, is in the final year of his current contract with the Cardinals. This winter, the aging infielder will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Meanwhile, his diminishing performance has prompted speculation regarding his potential return to the club (or the MLB) next season.
While Goldschmidt’s future in St. Louis remains uncertain, he has ended retirement talks and confirmed his commitment to continue playing in 2025, according to MLB.com. Nonetheless, the Cardinals may make him expendable, especially since his prospective successor could already be on the roster.
Jordan Walker, a promising young player, might provide a smooth and significantly less expensive option to Goldschmidt. The former’s presence may sway the Cards’ decision-making process about the latter.
Cardinals may already have their Paul Goldschmidt replacement on the roster in Jordan Walker
Despite spending his entire career in the majors as an outfielder, the Cardinals selected Walker as a third baseman in 2020. Nolan Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, now occupies the team’s hot corner and is signed until 2027. So St. Louis may move the 22-year-old to the opposite side of the diamond.
To put it mildly, Walker’s transition to the outfield has not been easy. His defensive run save (DRS) numbers in 2023 were historically low, indicating his problems. St. Louis is wasting time by pursuing this seemingly failed experiment; instead, they should return him to a position he is better suited for: corner infield.
In theory, Walker should find it easier to transition from third to first base than it is to learn how to play outfield. He has the right combination of stature (6-6) and quickness to play the position.
Walker will be able to focus more on hitting if St. Louis minimizes his defensive responsibilities. It would likely help him get back on track at the plate following a difficult 2024 season.
Walker is batting.178/.240/.518 in 29 games and 90 at-bats this season. The low numbers are disheartening for a player regarded as baseball’s No. 1 overall prospect in 2023. Allowing him to take Goldschmidt’s slot at first may change things.
