Diamondbacks may have their first baseman in Goldschmidt

Whether it was Lyle Overbay, Richie Sexson, Greg Colbrunn, Adam LaRoche, Juan Miranda any other of a host of players who gave it a shot, the team has struggled to find a player they could rely on.

Until now, they hope.

The emergence of Paul Goldschmidt last season afforded the D-backs the opportunity to look at other positions in free agency, but what exactly should the team expect from a player who hit eight home runs in 156 at bats?

According to Baseball Think Factory's Dan Szymborski in an ESPN Insider article, solid power and a pedestrian average.

Goldschmidt is projected to hit .250, with 30 home runs and 92 RBI, with an OBP of .340 and eight stolen bases.

Paul Goldschmidt plays in a very friendly park, doesn't have a lot of upside, and will always strike out a bit too much, but he has enough power to be a league average starter for a while, and his emergence after hitting .317/.407/.620 in his minor league career gives Arizona what it hoped to have in Juan Miranda.

The numbers projected for Goldschmidt would not make the youngster an All-Star, but they would establish him as a fixture in the middle of what should be a good lineup, as power like that is hard to come by.

And, at just 24, Goldschmidt could be Arizona's first baseman for present and future.