Predicting the fates of 7 Cardinals players, 2 coaches, and 1 executive after 2024

The Cardinals will bring back Paul Goldschmidt to end his career as a Cardinal.

This has been a talking point all year dating back to pre-season games at spring training. Paul Goldschmidt is in the final year of his five-year, $130 million deal. He has a strong case for being a Hall of Famer, he's won an MVP award with the Cardinals, and his leadership has been invaluable to the team this year.

What matters more than the intangibles perhaps would be Goldschmidt's on-field performance. For most of the year, Goldy was performing well below his career averages. Prior to August, Goldschmidt had a .233/.291/.387 slash line for an OPS of just .678 and a wRC+ of 91. He was a below-league-average hitter, and his on-base abilities had disappeared.

Since August began, however, Goldy is slashing .282/.340/.477 for an OPS of .816 and a wRC+ of 127. It's been a tale of two seasons for the veteran first baseman, and his recent production has complicated the Cardinals' decision this offseason. On one hand, the Cardinals can offer Goldschmidt a qualifying offer. If he accepts it, he's on the team for one year at a price of around $22 million. If he declines it and signs elsewhere, the Cardinals receive a compensatory pick. They could also let Goldy test free agency and see where the chips may fall.

I would imagine Goldschmidt returns next year. The Cardinals as an organization have loved keeping a strong veteran presence on the team, particularly for nostalgic reasons. There is a dollar figure and term length where it makes sense for both Paul Goldschmidt and St. Louis to agree upon, but one side will have to budge more than the other.

If the Cardinals can bring back Paul Goldschmidt on a two-year deal worth around $30 million total, I would be content with that. He would have to accept a lesser role to make space for young players like Alec Burleson and Luken Baker, but he could still be a potent bat off the bench and a strong voice in the clubhouse as he finishes his career a Cardinal.