Paul Goldschmidt finally getting paid like a superstar

Six-time All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is close to a contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals that will finally pay him the money he deserves

Paul Goldschmidt is finally getting paid like the superstar that he is.

The 31-year-old Goldschmidt and the St. Louis Cardinals are close to signing a five-year contract extension, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the deal is worth about $130 million, an average of $26 million a season.

While the deal isn’t finalized yet, it will likely be made official once Goldschmidt passes a physical as early as Saturday. John Mozeliak, Cardinals president of baseball operations, wouldn’t confirm the deal on Thursday but said they “are working toward” an agreement.

Goldschmidt was traded to St. Louis in December after eight years in Arizona, where he established himself as one of the best hitters in the game. Over the past five seasons, he ranks sixth in the majors in WAR, third in on-base percentage and fifth in OPS.

He’s made six All-Star Game appearances and won three Gold Gloves at first base and is coming off a 2018 season where he hit .290 with 33 home runs and 83 RBI for the Diamondbacks.

Goldschmidt’s contract, however, has never matched his production. Last year he made just $11.1 million and is due to earn $14.5 million this season, the last year of his contract. He was eligible to become a free agent next offseason, but will now remain in St. Louis thru 2024.

By the time he reaches the final year of this new deal Goldschmidt will be 36. He’s finally getting the money he deserves at a time when players his age are finding it harder than ever to get long-term deals.

Instead, the trend is moving in the other direction, toward younger players. The Chicago White Sox signed top prospect Eloy Jimenez to a six-year, $43 million extension on Wednesday before he even played a game in the majors.

Mike Trout also signed a lengthy extension with the Angels before he was set to hit the free agency market at the age of 29.

Goldschmidt recognized that his best bet at getting a big contract at this stage in his career was by signing an extension now rather than test his luck on the open market. He’s been well worth the money his entire career. Now the Cardinals are finally rewarding him for it.