The righthanded-hitting All-Star has had four consecutive seasons of at least 24 home runs and at least 80 RBIs, and he's got a career OPS of .930. (He also pulverizes NL Central opponents, as mentioned before.) In 2018, Goldschmidt won the Silver Slugger award ahead of other NL first baseman like Joey Votto, Anthony Rizzo, and the Cardinals' Carpenter with a .290/.389/.533 slash line, .922 OPS, and 33 home runs.

Goldschmidt finished sixth in the MVP voting this past season, and he has had a top-three finish in three of the previous six seasons. In 2013, Goldschmidt led the National League with 36 home runs and 125 RBIs, and two years ago he topped the league with 110 walks. Since 2013, he has had only one year with an OPS lower than .900.

It was .899 in 2016.

Goldschmidt is also a superior glove and gives the Cardinals' their best all-around first baseman since Albert Pujols left after the 2011 season. Goldschmidt has won three Gold Glove Awards, and the Cardinals believe that his presence at first base will add stability to a position in flux. Carpenter's advanced metrics at third base in 2018 put him as an average to above-average third baseman.