Paul Goldschmidt has so far been exactly what Yankees were hoping for

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.The Yankees knew they were getting a pro and a sturdy veteran when they signed Paul Goldschmidt. They hoped they were getting a productive offensive player, too, though that part was not as much of a given. The early returns have checked all the boxes. Through the first two weeks of the season, the 37-year-old first baseman has been one of the Yankees’ most consistent hitters, providing an important presence in both the leadoff and cleanup spots, depending on where Aaron Boone slots him on a given day. “He’s gotten off to a good start, which never hurts, you always want that,” Boone said before the Yankees’ off day Thursday.

“But I feel like this is what we can expect.” Goldschmidt recorded multiple hits in five of the six games on the Yankees’ road trip that ended Wednesday, which has him entering the three-game series against the Giants batting .383 (18-for-47) with a .942 OPS. The former MVP has been around long enough to know that it is still early and a good two weeks mean little in the course of a long, six-month season. “It’s nice to get hits and the team’s been playing well,” Goldschmidt said.“I’ve felt pretty good, but still a long season to go.

For me, just try to show up every day and prepare and work hard and have good at-bats and try to help us win.I try to keep it simple, whether I’ve been struggling or having some success, just keep that same mindset.

Go out there and play hard and try to win.” That said, Goldschmidt’s strong start offers some hope that this year can be different than the last one, which was the worst of his 15-year career.He got off to a slow start and did not break out of it until the second half, finishing the year batting .245 with a .716 OPS. In his talks with Boone over the offseason, after the Yankees signed him to a one-year, $12.5 million c...