REPORTS: Cardinals close to an extension with Paul Goldschmidt

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Photo credit (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

JUPITER, Fla. (KMOX) - The St. Louis Cardinals reportedly are nearing an extension with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

The club has not confirmed any reports.

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First to report news of a possible deal was Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Thursday afternoon. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the deal is worth five years and around $130 million.

The extension won't be finalized until Saturday after a physical that is scheduled to take place on Friday in Jupiter, reports Goold.

Last week, the 31-year-old spoke to our Tom Ackerman about his expectations for his first Cardinals home opener celebration.

He has been a National League All-Star each of the past six seasons (2013-18), and he is a four-time (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018) N.L. and Silver Slugger award winner. Goldschmidt is the lone N.L. player to be named an All-Star each of the past six seasons, and he’s one of just three players (Mike Trout and Salvador Pérez) in all of the majors to have done so.

The right-handed hitting Goldschmidt batted .290 in 2018 with 33 home runs and 83 RBI, finishing 6th in National League MVP voting.  The 6-3, 225-pound Delaware native has compiled a career .297 batting mark with 209 HR’s and 710 RBI in 1,092 games and has hit 30 or more homers in four of the last six seasons, including a league-leading 36 in 2013 when he finished 2nd in MVP voting.

Related story: Goldschmidt has lived up to 'gold standard' with Cardinals

“Goldy” owns a career .398 on-base pct. and .532 slugging mark, and since 2013, ranks 2nd among National League leaders in home runs (181), RBI (602), hits (996), runs (599), walks (575), extra base hits (413).  Goldschmidt is the current leader among active MLB first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage and he ranks 5th all-time in MLB history.

Photo credit (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

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Paul Goldschmidt sings for young fan
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