Seattle Mariners receive huge news regarding former MVP Free Agent Target

As the Seattle Mariners consider how to rebuild their roster this offseason, they received some big news on Monday as it was reported that St. Louis Cardinals will not extend a qualifying offer to slugger Paul Goldschmidt.

John Denton, who covers the Cardinals, had the news on social media:

As expected, he will not extend a qualifying offer to free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, per POBO John Mozeliak. The deadline to do so is 4pm CT today.

If extended and signed, the QO would have guaranteed Goldschmidt, 37, a $21.05 million salary for 2025.

The Cardinals did not tender Goldschmidt for one of two reasons:

1) They just don’t want it back, period.

2) They want it back, but they want it back at a lower number.

The Cardinals are a team in transition right now and are actively looking to shed salary. Goldschmidt hit .245 in 2024 with 22 homers, so he still has some left in the tank, but it might not be at $21 million anymore.

Where the Mariners play into this is that they no longer have to give up a draft pick to sign Goldschmidt. If the Cardinals had issued him a QO, he would have received a large compensatory pick from the signing team. The Mariners don’t like to give up big draft picks, especially for someone who will turn 37 next season. Now, they are free to sign him and all it will cost is money.

Goldschmidt spent 14 years in the big leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cardinals, hitting .289. He is a seven-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glover. Won the National League MVP award in 2022.

The sailors they are known to need an upgrade at first base next year. They have Luke Raley who can play there but struggles to hit lefties. If Goldschmidt were to come to Seattle, he could play both first base and designated hitter.

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