Thinking about a Paul Goldschmidt contract extension

There are risks to signing a player his age to a long-term deal but also potential rewards

Probably before Opening Day 2024, the Cardinals and cornerstone first baseman Paul Goldschmidt will almost certainly agree to a contract extension that keeps him with the club for the remainder of his playing career. Both sides have expressed interest in doing so, and the DeWitt-era Cardinals are fairly legacy-protective when it comes to retaining franchise stalwarts, even well into their decline phases. While I think there’s a compelling case for not re-signing Goldbird, as he’s known in these pages, reality must be acknowledged. As such, let’s explore the prospect of an extension that will keep him in St. Louis beyond the 2024 season — what it might look like and how it might play out.