Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has hired Excel Sports Management as representation, reports Robert Murray of Today’s Knuckleball. The three-time All-Star was previously a client of ISE Baseball (formerly Relativity Baseball) and agent Joe Sambito, who won’t follow him to Excel, according to Murray.
Goldschmidt, an eighth-round pick in 2009, became one of baseball’s preeminent stars during his second full season – 2013 – when he hit .302/.401/.551 with 36 home runs, stole 15 bases and accounted for 6.2 fWAR in 710 plate appearances. Since the beginning of that season, Goldschmidt has slashed .306/.414/.548 in 2,248 trips to the plate and accounted for 20.8 fWAR, the fourth-highest total among major league position players. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter is in the midst of yet another excellent season, having batted .293/.420/.505 with 14 homers and 10 steals through 365 trips to the plate.
Goldschmidt’s success has come under the eminently team-friendly contract he signed before the 2013 campaign. Back then, Goldschmidt put pen to paper on a five-year, $32MM pact with a $14.5MM club option for 2019. If Goldschmidt ultimately plays out his deal, including the option, he won’t be eligible for free agency until the age of 32.
He’s a legend for us DBacks fans, hope he can be a Diamondback for his whole career. We have yet to have a legitimate lifelong Diamondback who has put up great numbers throughout their career.
Probably means the Bucks are going after him.