Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will be back in the lineup tonight, reports Andy Martino of SNY. Stanton is on the 60-day injured list, meaning he will need to retake a spot on the 40-man roster to be activated. The Yankees already have a vacancy there, so they will only need to make a corresponding active roster move in order to make this official.
Stanton, 35, will be making his season debut once tonight’s game begins. Way back in February, he reported to camp with soreness in both elbows and he has spent the past few months trying to get healthy. In March, he told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com that he had torn tendons in both elbows. He landed on the 10-day IL to start the season and the club listed his injury as elbow epicondylitis, more commonly known as “tennis elbow”. He was transferred to the 60-day IL at the start of May.
He has finally been able to ramp up in the past month or so, starting with some work with the high-velocity pitching machine and some live batting practice. He officially began a rehab assignment last week, going 3-11 plus a walk in three Double-A contests.
It seems fair to wonder what sort of production Stanton can provide at this point in his career. Though he has a lengthy track record of crushing the ball with ferocity, he’s now 35 years old and injuries have become more frequent. Though he’s largely been limited to the designated hitter slot, he still hasn’t appeared in 140 games in a season since 2018. He hasn’t hit the 115-game mark since 2021. Over the 2022-2024 seasons, he struck out in 30.5% of his plate appearances while slashing .212/.291/.454 for a 106 wRC+.
He’s now coming off yet another lengthy injury absence and it’s no guarantee that his bat will be an upgrade over what the Yankees have already had in there. Ben Rice has been getting most of the DH time this year and has a .227/.311/.460 line and 117 wRC+ so far this year. Knocking him out of that spot will have domino effects.
Moving Rice to first base isn’t really an option because Paul Goldschmidt is there and is hitting .311/.371/.455 for a 133 wRC+. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic points out that a Rice/Goldschmidt platoon would make on-paper sense but that manager Aaron Boone has ruled out such a tidy arrangement, perhaps not surprising with Goldschmidt a respected veteran making $12.5MM.
The Yanks are open to Rice getting some time behind the plate but Austin Wells is hitting .224/.288/.464 for a 107 wRC+ with solid defensive grades. He has also helped the pitching staff put up good numbers all year along despite the injuries to Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil and others. Even backup catcher J.C. Escarra has a .230/.333/.361 line and 100 wRC+ with good defense to boot.
Stanton does have some outfield work in his past but didn’t play there at all last year. Given his elbow injuries, he’s probably not going to be sent out to the grass. Even if the Yanks were willing to do that, they have been getting strong results from their outfield group of Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Jasson Domínguez.
It’s technically a good problem to have but it will be tricky for Boone to get the right balance of finding playing time for everyone so they all can stay crisp while simultaneously trying to optimize the lineup for success on a given day, though the logjam probably won’t last long since injuries are fairly inevitable.
Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images
Just as long as he’s ready come October because that’s when he really shines.
I have confidence they’ll choke AGAIN.
2 times in WS and 1 win since 2009.
With the money they spend on players every single year, 2 appearances? 1 win?
Embarrassing to say the least.
It’s not like they are the only one spending money.
JV and Mad Max approve this message 😉
Different team from last year. IE. a bottom 10 team defensively in 2024. Who knew this ? The Dodgers! They played small ball in that WS and sure enough the Yanks self imploded..
This year, pick your publication. Yanks are a top 15 team defensively even top 10 top in spots.
I’m regards to Stanton, just DH that cat … and sporadically.. Keep him in one piece to get him to October.
And the 3B coach doesn’t send him in a hard hit ball to left field. Maybe to right center but definitely not LF
Stanton will last maybe two weeks before something else goes physically wrong with him. He should retire but we all know that isn’t going to happen anytime soon…
For $32M a year I’m willing to have a whole bunch of things go physically wrong.
Consider retiring from commenting because you’ve said the same thing which has been said a million times for any older, injury-marred player.
Probably one of the biggest, no pun intended, marshmallows in mlb history!
The Giants, Dodgers, and Braves had their turns, not it’s the Yankees turn for the spotlight.
/s
is there some Braves news I’m missing?….Only recent news is them getting blown out by the Rockies yesterday as far as I’m aware lol
Welcome back, Mike Stanton!
Bye bye Reyes or hopefully DJL!!
His name is Giancarlo but very cool of you to purposely use the wrong name.
@rct
Actually, his real name is Giancarlo Cruz-Michael Stanton. He was using Mike for the longest time during his playing career but once he got famous, moved back to Giancarlo. He’s still Mike to me. Just like the team that plays at Jacobs Field.
@Stevie Steve
No, there’s a different name that’s not politically correct today.
Those darn Mike’s scalped another settler last week.
I think they call Stanton “Mike drop.”
Purposefully using the wrong name for some body is becoming an American pastime. Respecting someone’s choice in name is too woke, right?
@kabphillie
It has nothing to do with that. Might want to stay off Reddit for a few years.
Relax man, miss, other
It was a play on the person’s actual name.
@Stevie Steve
Should only have numbers and barcodes. That’s what you are in our society. When you die, you’re a number. When you pick up food you’re a number. When you go to the doctor you’re a number.
@Stevie Steve
Instead of a name, they should just assign you a number. So, I could be # 681AL3P9916-131119-YZ-09. Give us a barcode to scan and it’s so much easier.
I hate the Yankees, the original “Evil Empire”, but this guy, Giancarlo Stanton, hits the ball harder than anybody I’ve ever seen.
I just hope he doesn’t swing so hard both arms disconnect at the elbow and fly off into the stands still connected to the bat. That wouldn’t be a great scene for the kids to see. And while the arms being connected to the bat would create added drag someone could still be hurt if hit by the bat/arm projectile.
If that happens I hope it’s against the dodgers.
Kershaw has disarmed Stanton!!!
That curve is nasty!
WB Big G!
Who green lit this trade? It was a bad idea even when he was just coming off an MVP season with Miami. Coulda gave Harper, Machado, or Seager that money.
This guy is on steroids for sure
Evidence? You know they test every year, don’t you?
Yes, they do.
Source: The agreed-to program in the current CBS.
Drug Program | Player Resource Center | MLB.com share.google/l6uWEGF30WmbVwFyl
Things have changed since 2011.
Anyone with a chemistry degree can stay ahead of their tests. It doesn’t take much money to hire someone to make sure you pass those test. It’s been done many times in baseball before. And you’re silly if you think Tatis only used steroids once and got caught.
Some of you are so naïve you’re like children
Why are you even following baseball if you’re that much of cynic and believe that all the good players are cheating? Nobody is holding a gun to your head and shackled you down to watch.
How do you know the “steroid snafu” is still a thing 14 years later?
I have no doubt some players are cheating, and some are getting away with it, but Profar is a recent example of testing catching players.
And how does being “a physical beast athlete” make you an authority on modern-day testing?
No deal: Everyone here is entitled to their opinion. Big man pumping up his ego by calling others “little people” is showing himself to be very small.
Speaking of small, did you guys play nut smack to see whose had shrunk up from too many steroids? Lol.
Sorry to disappoint, but I’m going to decline your offer to touch my nuts.
You reported me while you make insinuations like that? You might want to seek professional help.
Gives a whole new meaning to the term ballplayers.
Nah, just too many curls cause he’s tired of looking small next to judge
One of the worse contracts and trades of all time.
One all star appearance with the Yankees and he batted .211 that season.
@DarrenDreifortsContract
Only Happy Meal fans look at batting average and think that explains the whole player. LOL! No wonder, MLB is in such decline. They’re attracting the wrong type of fans…
He’s just a troll, Old York. He does this kind of stuff every post
The only time BA doesn’t matter if you’re hitting 40-50 homers every season. Which Stanton has only done once in his career.
He’s a glorified Richie Sexson.
He’s had a career 135 wRC+ and only one season below average over 15 seasons. His career slashline is .257 .345 .525. Way better than anything Richie Sexson.
They didn’t give much up from the player/prospect side and they can essentially print their own money. If the Reds made that trade it would have been real bad.
“Peanut brittle, get your fresh, peanut brittle here!” Ahahahahaha!
Time to re-start climbing up the career strikeouts list.
Zing!
Can we trade NYCityRiddler to the hockeyrumors or footballrumors site? Ahahahahah
You sure you want that? Those guys are animals.
He’s got 2.5 years to hit 71 home runs. Would love to see another member of the 500 home run club
It’s sad to think that a slumping team (the Yankees), get slower, less athletic and less flexible with Stanton back.
The Rays could jump them for 1st in the division by the All Star break.
@ctyank7
I predicted the Rays will win the East this year. I still think that’s possible.
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/poll-who-will-win-the-a…
It is possible every year they know how to stay in it.
The Derrick Rose of baseball
Enjoy your 2 weeks healthy.
Injuries have been frustrating but he’s been everything you’d want a star player to be in terms of attitude and demeanor. .994 ops in the playoffs. I’m on team Stanton.