Paul Goldschmidt's latest comments could give Reds the perfect mentor for Sal Stewart

A lot of the focus this offseason will be on the Cincinnati Reds' roster needs. This is a club that is going to require a new starting pitcher (or two), a few bullpen arms, a third baseman, a right-handed-hitting outfielder, a catcher, and more. It's a lot, but it's also not everything.

While we often think about what's going on directly on the field, a team like the Reds is in a unique position. They have a bright young core of foundational pieces, and maximizing those blue-chip pieces and their development is the single most important thing that Cincinnati can do.

Think of it this way, a platoon partner for Hector Rodriguez might help the Reds win another game or two in 2027, but Sal Stewart maximizing his full potential will change the Reds' fortunes in 2027 for years to come.

While there are plenty of folks coming out of the woodwork to pick Stewart apart these days, the truth of the matter is he should be the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year. Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, and JJ Wetherholt all had solid rookie campaigns, but with 30-plus homers, 100-plus RBI, and 15-plus stolen bases, Stewart's year was only matched by a rookie once before, in 1986, by Jose Canseco. In many different ways, the 22-year-old's performance was historic.

Historic doesn't mean perfect. While Stewart's game is pretty well-rounded, there are things he needs to clean up. There are also things he simply needs to learn in order to be a pro. For example, he played all 162 games in 2026, something he was (rightfully) very proud of. However, he was worn out by the time September rolled around and posted his worst month by far, with .247/.287/.280.

One of the most important investments that Cincinnati can make, then, would be a mentor for Stewart to help him reach his full potential. Out of the ashes of the New York Yankees' embarrassing playoff elimination came a little nugget of news: 39-year-old Paul Goldschmidt still wants to play in 2027, and the Reds must go out and do what's necessary to bring him into the fold to take Stewart under his wing.

Sal Stewart mentorship is just one thing that Paul Goldschmidt can offer the Reds

Earlier in the 2026 season, when the Yankees were banged up and missing their superstar Aaron Judge, Goldschmidt got tabbed with a lot more playing time. Judge went down on May 31 with a rib injury, opening the door for the former St. Louis Cardinal to play every day. He responded with a .297/.321/.564 line with eight homers in June. Moreover, Yankees manager Aaron Boone called him “an amazing force with our team and our culture.”

That sounds like the kind of guy you want around Stewart, and that's before you consider that he's a former NL MVP, seven-time All-Star, and four-time Gold Glove winner. That last part is important because, if Stewart sticks at first the majority of the time, he could use some help shoring up his defense.

Furthermore, Goldschmidt can teach him the little things about being a professional that will help avoid future September swoons. Things like conditioning, preparation, and mental toughness are hard to measure, but they can make all the difference in the world when it comes to avoiding wearing down and busting slumps.

Now, Goldschmidt isn't an everyday player for long stretches anymore at this point in his career. He can step in and fill in for injuries as a regular for short stretches, but at his age, he'll run out of gas if asked to do it for too long.

However, as a dedicated lefty-masher he is still elite in that specific role. In 2026 he posted a .967 OPS against southpaws. In a similar role in 2025, his OPS against left-handers was .981. Essentially, he can still hit like an MVP if limited to this sort of duty.

That sets up an interesting positional dilemma should Cincinnati sign him. Do you move Stewart full-time to third base and then find a strongside platoon partner for Goldschmidt at first? Or do you move Stewart back-and-forth across the diamond in a pseudo platoon with the wily veteran.

Those are important questions, for sure, but the biggest concern should be maximizing the intangible value that Goldschmidt can bring to the table, with the understanding that the impact his presence can have on Stewart will pay dividends for years to come. The rest can be figured out later.

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