Yankees’ $12 Million Star Sends Blunt Message to Aaron Boone After Injury Scare

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt provided the team's latest injury scare Monday afternoon.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone removed Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star, early in a 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Goldschmidt told reporters he's been battling a sore back but has "zero" concerns about missing Opening Day.

Goldschmidt said it was Boone's call to pull his new first baseman. The eight-time All-Star made it clear he didn't believe he needed to leave in the third inning.

"I can play a few innings," Goldschmidt said. "I could have probably played the whole game."

"In Spring Training, you just try to be smart," Goldschmidt acknowledged, according to the Yankees' official website. "This was probably a time [when] there's no need to push through something and make it more sore."

Boone subsequently defended his decision.

"He was like, ‘I could keep going,' but I was like, ‘No, let's get out of there,'" Boone said. "It's nothing that I think is anything too big."

Boone likely made the right decision, especially given the Yankees' recent rash of injuries. Now is not the time for Goldschmidt, the 2022 NL MVP, to hurt his back further and hit the injured list.

Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal in December, giving the Yankees another dependable righty power bat. Barring any further injuries, Goldschmidt's presence gives the Yankees three former MVP winners in their Opening Day lineup; he'll join three-time winner Aaron Judge and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger.

Giancarlo Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP, would have joined them if not for tennis elbow in both arms. Stanton and infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) are out indefinitely, though the former hopes to return in late May or early June.

Goldschmidt owns a .313 average, three home runs, and 10 RBI this spring. If healthy, he'll likely hit cleanup against the Milwaukee Brewers next Thursday.