Major League Baseball's All-Star Paul Goldschmidt has finally agreed to a contract extension with the Cardinals, which will pay him what he deserves. The Athletic first broke the news saying the deal is worth $130 million.

The deal was contingent on a physical. St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak has said they've been working on a deal for quite some time. Goldschmidt spent 8 years in Arizona, before being traded to St. Louis.in December. He ranks sixth in the league in WAR, third in OBP and fifth in OPS.

Paul Goldschmidt has become a league star for St. Louis

Goldschmidt has been voted into six All-Star games and claimed three Gold Gloves. He continued to build a strong resume in 2018 when he went .290 and hit 33 home runs and 83 RBIs in Arizona. In 2018, he only made $11 million and is due $14.5 million this season. Goldschmidt could have become a free agent next offseason but has decided to remain in St. Louis through 2024. Goldschmidt's production continues to rise.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Goldschmidt will be in his late 30s when he reaches the end of his new deal with the Cardinals. He's finally getting a deal when others like him are struggling to secure long-term deals. Chicago just signed top prospect Eloy Jimenez to a six-year extension deal, before he even played one game in the league.

League stars avoiding free agency

Mike Trout is the latest player to sign an extension, before taking a gamble in free agency, when he was 29. Goldschmidt knew that he had the best chance of getting a good deal by signing an extension rather than entering free agency.

Spring Training has become known for being the time of contract extensions.

Top stars like Nolan Arenado, Alex Bregman, Aaron Nola, and Jorge Polanco have all signed contract extensions. Goldschmidt's contract is the latest proof that even the league's star players want to avoid free agency.

Goldschmidt may be happy that a deal is done, but it’s painful to see arguably the game’s most underrated player never see the money he deserves.

Goldschmidt will make less than stars like Yoenis Cespedes and Albert Pujols in 2019. Goldschmidt boasts a better career OPS than league stars Stanton, Harper and J.D. Martinez. While he probably won't be stealing any more bases, from 2012 to 2017, he stole 113 bases in 141 attempts. We will have to wait and see how Goldschmidt produces for the St. Louis Cardinals.
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