As the Yankees’ season ends on a sour note, only more questions arise on what the team will look like by April 2027.
Or, who is simply still willing to play, even if not in pinstripes.
Paul Goldschmidt, 39, seemed to suggest his head is still in the game in the immediate aftermath of the Yankees’ 4-3 Game 3 loss to the Rays in an ALDS sweep on Wednesday night.
“I love competing,” he told The Post’s Jon Heyman.
Yet, Goldschmidt did not indicate where he hopes to play next season.
He will be an unrestricted free agent after the World Series, which may bring challenges and delays as MLB has a looming lockout over its head when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on Dec. 1.
The work stoppage would freeze offseason business, conversations between teams and players, and threaten the start of the 2027 season.
The 16-year veteran agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Yankees in what was another move by New York to make its 2026 roster resemble last year’s team.
A seven-time All-Star and the 2022 NL MVP primarily served as a platoon bat for the Yankees. He had a .765 OPS with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs across 105 games this season.
On Wednesday, he entered the game for one at-bat as a pinch hitter for Luis Garcia Jr., reaching first base on a throwing error by Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in the bottom of the eighth as the Yankees trailed by one run.
The Yankees couldn’t make anything of the gift as Cody Bellinger went on to fly out and Giancarlo Stanton struck out swinging.
Goldschmidt finished the postseason 0-for-6 at the plate.
Goldschmidt’s resume is one that could eventually put him in the Hall of Fame, though the only thing missing is a World Series ring.
