Rival NL Central Team Linked to Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt's days in St. Louis have come to an end. The former MVP (2022 with the Cardinals) and seven-time All-Star heads into free agency at the age of 37 coming off the worst season of his 14-year career. He registered a below-average OPS+ (98) for the first time. It appears that Father Time may have finally caught up to the potential future Hall of Famer.

But all of that doesn't mean he won't have some suitors in free agency this winter. Only two first-sackers will be more in demand, Pete Alonso and Christian Walker.

The latest rumor has a Cardinals division rival badly wanting to get their hands on him, as reported by USA Today insider Bob Nightengale.

The (Milwaukee) Brewers would love to find a way to get former Cardinals All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on their roster, and would have been all-in if first baseman Rhys Hoskins had opted out of his contract.

Hoskins hasn't played the outfield since 2018, and after a torn ACL in his knee cost him the entire 2023 season, it's unlikely he'll be put back out there anytime soon. Hoskins exercised his $18 million player option to stay with the Brewers for 2025, and hopes to build upon his 2024 comeback in which he launched 26 homers, though with a paltry .214 batting average.

If they were to still make a play for Goldschmidt, the Brew Crew could play either him or Hoskins at DH, and alternate them in the field in order to keep both of them fresh.

But other teams will also be interested in Goldy, including the New York Yankees and Mets (if they lose Pete Alonso), and the Seattle Mariners.

Goldschmidt finished 2024 with 22 HR and 65 RBIs, both his lowest numbers in a full season in 10 years.