May 23, 2025 | St. Louis, MO
The St. Louis Cardinals have officially turned the page on the Paul Goldschmidt era — and it turns out, they had the solution ready all along.
Following Goldschmidt’s offseason departure to the New York Yankees, the Cardinals made a bold move by shifting Willson Contreras to first base full-time. The adjustment, once seen as a gamble, is now paying off in a big way.
Goldschmidt has flourished in New York, batting .339 with a .881 OPS and 1.4 WAR through the first several weeks of the season. But back in St. Louis, Contreras has drawn praise for his defensive performance, helping anchor a Cardinals team that’s surged into contention thanks to elite fielding and scrappy consistency.
“He might be one of the best first basemen I’ve ever seen,” said veteran pitcher Miles Mikolas following last night’s win over Pittsburgh. “We knew he’d handle it, but his range and arm have been outstanding. He’s really exceeded expectations.”
While Contreras’s offensive production has dipped slightly — his OPS sits at .728 — his glove has more than made up for it. The Cardinals’ defense, despite losing a four-time Gold Glove winner in Goldschmidt, has been among the best in baseball this season.
Manager Oliver Marmol credited the team’s collective commitment to defense after the game.
“We said at the start of the year that defense was something we could control, and these guys have bought in,” Marmol said. “They’re locked in on every pitch. They’ve made it clear we’re not giving anything away.”
Goldschmidt, now 37, admitted earlier this month that he hadn’t met his own expectations during his final stretch in St. Louis and that the change of scenery helped him find his swing again.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are thriving without him — and in large part because of the unexpected impact of Willson Contreras. What once looked like a problem may have quietly become a turning point.
