TAMPA — The New York Yankees’ decision to bring back veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year deal is poised to influence Ben Rice’s role beyond his expected starting position at first base this season. Although Rice is anticipated to maintain his regular spot, manager Aaron Boone suggested that Goldschmidt’s presence could lead to Rice seeing additional starts as a catcher.
Manager Boone discusses possible adjustments to Rice’s responsibilities
During a Sunday interview on MLB Network Radio, Boone emphasized that he still views Rice as a central figure in the lineup.
“I don’t anticipate it affecting Rice because we think Rice is a star and we think he’s going to mash in the middle of the lineup for a long time,”
Boone stated. However, the signing of Goldschmidt, affectionately called “Goldy,” complicates the Yankees’ catcher depth chart, potentially expanding Rice’s time behind the plate.
Boone explained that prior to Goldschmidt’s return, he saw Rice as the third-string catcher, backing up Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra primarily for late-game situations. With Goldschmidt now in the mix as a left-handed bat to face tough lefties, Boone suggested,
“Now, it probably pushes him a little more into — I don’t expect a lot — but somewhat more of a catching role. There’s tough lefty days, we’re going to want Goldy in there, we could put Ben behind the plate because we feel he’s going to hold his own too against lefties.”
The manager acknowledged that while Goldschmidt isn’t an ideal fit in terms of positional needs—since the Yankees would have preferred a right-handed hitting outfielder to balance the roster—the club prioritized acquiring the “best player available” to address the left-handed tilt of their lineup.
“So it complicates it there a little bit, but to finish off our roster with a really good player [in Goldschmidt], we felt like we had to do it,”
Boone said.
Righty-lefty platoon strategy and Rice’s versatility
Goldschmidt excelled against left-handed pitching last season, achieving a .981 OPS, making him a strategic weapon for the Yankees on days they face tough lefty starters. Despite this, the club intends for Rice — who started 46 games at first base, 26 at catcher, and 48 as designated hitter in 2025 — to continue taking his fair share of at-bats against lefties, leveraging his own strengths behind the plate and at bat.
Impact of Goldschmidt’s return on the Yankees’ bench composition
Beyond Rice’s role, Goldschmidt’s addition influences the bench construction. If the Yankees can maintain good health leading up to Opening Day, the backup group is expected to include Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, and two players from J.C. Escarra, Oswaldo Cabrera, and prospect Jasson Domínguez.
Escarra remains the primary backup catcher, but the frequency with which Rice would catch could affect Escarra’s playing time. Cabrera and Domínguez both hit switch, with stronger performances from the left side, but the team may rely on Cabrera more defensively at shortstop as a secondary option to José Caballero. Rosario, conversely, seems less suited for shortstop based on last year’s experience.
Prospects’ roles and Boone’s rotation outlook
Boone denied the likelihood of giving emerging players such as Domínguez and Spencer Jones purely bench roles, suggesting a more fluid approach.
“Probably not in either situation a case where we’d want them as bench pieces — that doesn’t mean there’s not a scenario where they’re part of a true rotation where there’s real regular playing time,”
Boone observed.
“But there’s a lot to still happen between now and when we break camp in late March.”
Significance of Goldschmidt’s return for the Yankees’ 2026 season
Paul Goldschmidt’s return on a $4 million contract brings veteran experience to a team balancing its infield and bench depth. Although the signing does not directly threaten Rice’s expected workload at first base, it introduces complexity regarding catcher rotations and pinch-hitting opportunities, where Boone’s management decisions will be critical in maximizing personnel.
The Yankees’ strategic choices this spring, including how often Rice is placed behind the plate and who fills the bench spots, will impact their lineup flexibility against left- and right-handed pitching. As the season approaches, observers will watch how Boone integrates Rice’s versatility with Goldschmidt’s proven hitting to optimize the Yankees’ offensive and defensive balance.
