Paul Goldschmidt’s right knee has been bugging him on and off for the last few weeks, but the Yankees’ first baseman isn’t worried about the issue.
“We were just getting it checked out, so I think that was a little bit more of a precaution,” Goldschmidt told the Daily News Sunday after only being available in an emergency situation in Saturday’s win, a game in which he did not appear. “I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be fine. It’s just a little sore.”
Goldschmidt underwent an MRI on his knee, which came back clean and cleared him of any ligament damage.
The 37-year-old initially hurt his knee on Aug. 12 when he slipped and fell while catching a popup in foul territory. Originally described as a low-grade knee sprain, Goldschmidt’s ache was called a bone bruise by Aaron Boone on Sunday.
This is the play where Paul Goldschmidt suffered the low-grade right-knee sprain. You can see him bang the knee pretty hard in foul territory. pic.twitter.com/4cbLbJsQWa
— Brendan Kuty 🧟♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) August 14, 2025
Neither Boone nor Goldschmidt believes the player has done anything to reaggravate his knee injury since that popup. However, it has lingered and been an occasional nuisance since.
“It’s been pretty manageable through this,” Boone said. “There’s been some days where it bothers him a little more than others, but right now, I expect him to be a full go.”
Boone expected Goldschmidt to be a “normal player” in the Yankees’ series finale against the Blue Jays, though the veteran didn’t start with the right-handed Max Scherzer pitching for Toronto.
Goldschmidt has a .604 OPS against lefties this season.
BOONE TALKS SABATHIA
With the Yankees’ honoring CC Sabathia’s recent Hall of Fame induction on Sunday, Boone took a few moments to reflect on his former teammate and player.
While the manager called Sabathia “a killer on the field” and “an awesome competitor,” Boone said the lefty’s “biggest legacy” is the impact he made as a teammate.
“The ultimate clubhouse guy,” Boone said. “Brought people together. He is a big driver of what I feel like is our culture in our clubhouse, passed down to the [Brett Gardners] and the [Aaron] Judges of the world. Guys are able to come in there and feel like they can be themselves and feel welcome.
“Whether you’re a guy that’s had a cup of coffee in the big leagues or a Hall of Famer and everything in between, [Sabathia] made you feel part of the team.”
JUDGE BACK IN RF
After costing the Yankees a run with his compromised arm on Friday and DH’ing on Saturday, Judge returned to right field on Sunday. Prior to Friday, Judge had exclusively been a DH since returning from a right flexor strain.
Boone has declined to specify how often he intends to use Judge in right field, calling it a “day by day thing” on Sunday. Judge said Friday that he wants to play defense “as much as I can.”
