The New York Yankees have plenty of roster questions to answer this offseason, but first base isn’t one of them. With Paul Goldschmidt heading to free agency and $12.5 million coming off the books, the Yankees already have their replacement in-house — and his name is Ben Rice.

Rice’s rookie season wasn’t just promising; it was the kind of breakout that can quietly reshape a team’s long-term plans.

A breakout that changed everything

At 26 years old, Rice stepped into his first full season in the majors and immediately proved he belonged. Across 138 games, he slashed .255/.337/.499 with 26 home runs, 65 RBIs, and a 133 wRC+. Those numbers place him firmly among the most productive first basemen in baseball.

What stood out most wasn’t just the power, but the quality of his contact. Rice r

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