The New York Yankees are shaking things up as they break spring training, and their new-look lineup might feature a surprising twist: first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, a key offseason addition, could be hitting lead-off against left-handed pitchers. YES Network’s Jack Curry dropped the bombshell after taping an interview with manager Aaron Boone for the Yankees News & Views podcast, revealing that while catcher Austin Wells is expected to lead off against righties, Goldschmidt might get reps at the top against lefties—starting with a test run against the Phillies’ Jesus Luzardo on Saturday, March 22. It’s a bold move for a team that’s lost Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, Anthony Rizzo, and Gleyber Torres, and one that’s got fans buzzing about the Yankees’ untraditional approach.
Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star who signed with the Yankees after six seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, has never hit lead-off in his 14-year MLB career. But his career .381 on-base percentage makes him an intriguing fit. “He’s never led off in majors, but has a .381 career OBP,” Curry noted on X. The Yankees’ logic is clear: they want Aaron Judge, their best hitter, batting second to maximize his at-bats, and they don’t want a base-stealer like Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Anthony Volpe at lead-off—those speedsters risk getting picked off with Judge at the plate. Goldschmidt, a right-handed hitter with a patient approach, fits the bill as a table-setter who can get on base without the need to swipe bags. He’s coming off a down year in St. Louis (.245, 22 HRs, .716 OPS), but his career .293 average and .911 OPS show he’s still got plenty in the tank at 37.
The Yankees have been experimenting with Wells at lead-off throughout spring training, and for good reason. The 25-year-old catcher broke out in 2024, hitting .286 with a .364 OBP in the second half, and his lack of speed makes him a low-risk option at the top—exactly what Boone wants ahead of Judge. But against lefties, where Wells has struggled (.231 average in 2024), Goldschmidt could be the answer. He’s a career .321 hitter with a .413 OBP against left-handed pitching, and starting him and Judge—both righties—back-to-back breaks from Boone’s usual pattern of staggering lefty-righty hitters. It’s a calculated risk, but with Cody Bellinger slotted to hit behind Judge, and young switch-hitters like Oswaldo Cabrera and Jasson Dominguez still developing, the Yankees are prioritizing getting their best bats in optimal spots.
This lineup shuffle comes after a major roster overhaul. The Yankees let Torres walk after he led off in the 2024 playoffs, where he posted a .333 OBP but struggled defensively at second base. They didn’t directly replace him with another infielder, instead signing Goldschmidt to play first and adding Bellinger for outfield depth. With Soto, Verdugo, and Rizzo also gone, the pressure’s on Wells and Goldschmidt to set the table for Judge. If Wells falters—his OBP dipped to .308 in September 2024—pitchers might start working around Judge, a nightmare scenario for a Yankees offense that’s already dealing with injuries to Gerrit Cole and others.
The Yankees open the season against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27 at Yankee Stadium, with right-hander Freddy Peralta on the mound, so expect Wells to lead off. But if Goldschmidt gets a shot against lefties, it could signal a new era for the Bombers—one where traditional lead-off roles take a backseat to maximizing their biggest bats. Boone’s willing to roll the dice, and with Judge looming in the two-hole, Goldschmidt might just be the unorthodox spark this lineup needs.
