Goldschmidt's Impact, Rest Highlight Yankees' Strategy

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who joined the team on a one-year deal after a down season in St. Louis, has quickly become a key contributor with a .346 average, 5 home runs, and 22 RBI. Despite ranking 277th in MLB sprint speed, Goldschmidt stole a crucial base against the Mariners and was replaced by a pinch-runner who scored the tying run, but the Yankees ultimately lost in extra innings. He also hit his first pinch-hit home run in 14 seasons, helping the Yankees rally to a 3-2 win over Seattle earlier in the series. After starting six consecutive games, Goldschmidt was given a rare day off on Wednesday, with Ben Rice filling in at first base. Goldschmidt's performance has helped the Yankees address a major need at first base. The latest moves reflect the team's effort to manage player workloads during the season.