Cardinals, Paul Goldschmidt sign deal for five-year extension

(From the St. Louis Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have signed six-time National League All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a five-year (2020-24) contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Goldschmidt was acquired by the Cardinals on December 5, 2018 in a four-player trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"Having Paul under contract and serving as a key part of our everyday lineup through 2024 is exciting," stated Cardinals' Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr. "Throughout his career Paul has demonstrated the traits of both an All-Star player and an admired teammate, and we look forward to having him become part of the great Cardinals tradition for many years."

"When we made the trade to acquire Paul, we knew we had added one of the game's premier players," said Cardinals' President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. "We are all excited for Paul's introduction to St. Louis, and to our passionate fans, who we feel will make this the perfect match."

Goldschmidt, 31, has been a National League All-Star each of the past six seasons (2013-18), and he is a four-time (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018) N.L. Silver Slugger award winner and three-time (2013, 2015, 2017) Rawlings Gold Glove award recipient. Goldschmidt is the lone N.L. player to be named an All-Star each of the past six seasons, and he's one of just three players (Mike Trout and Salvador Pérez) in all of the majors to have done so.

The right-handed hitting Goldschmidt batted .290 in 2018 with 33 home runs and 83 RBI, finishing 6th in National League MVP voting. The 6-3, 225-pound Delaware native has compiled a career .297 batting mark with 209 HR's and 710 RBI in 1,092 games and has hit 30 or more homers in four of the last six seasons, including a league-leading 36 in 2013 when he finished 2nd in MVP voting.

"Goldy" owns a career .398 on-base pct. and .532 slugging mark, and since 2013, ranks 2nd among National League leaders in home runs (181), RBI (602), hits (996), runs (599), walks (575), extra base hits (413). Goldschmidt is the current leader among active MLB first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage and he ranks 5th all-time in MLB history.

Goldschmidt joins All-Star pitcher Miles Mikolas (2020-23) and outfielder José Martínez(2019-20) among Cardinals who were signed to multi-year contract extensions this spring.