Yankees Need to Start Preparing for Life Without Giancarlo Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton had a solid season last year, continuing his trend of clobbering baseballs that he displayed during the New York Yankees' World Series run in 2024. For anybody hoping Stanton would be adding to his Hall of Fame resume in pinstripes, 2025 may have been the final time he spent any length of note looking like the Stanton of old.

For as solid as Stanton performed last year, the Yankees should have been a little more wary about relying on him. Whether it's big or small, they can always pencil Stanton in for an IL stint, and it was something general manager Brian Cashman has admitted publicly before. This latest injury spell is longer than usual for Stanton, but in a lot of ways, it's not that surprising.

Stanton is an oft-injured 36-year-old slugger who has been relegated to a designated hitter role for fear that he might break down if he's on his legs too much in the outfield. Unfortunately, keeping him off his legs hasn't changed the fact that Stanton has been out since April, and the most anybody has seen of him is a video of him running the bases this week. It's a step in the right direction compared to where he has been all year, but the Yankees have yet to announce a rehab assignment.

Giancarlo Stanton running the bases

Things we like to see!
pic.twitter.com/1T7qdvYm9H
— 4 Train Savages (@FourSavages) July 19, 2024

Yankees can't count on Giancarlo Stanton any longer

If 2026 is a lesson to the Yankees, it's that they can no longer rely on Stanton. When he's healthy — which is becoming less and less frequent in recent years — Stanton's bat is always one swing away from being a game-wrecker, but heading into next season, they should be thinking of what life will be like without him.

The thought of having Stanton reach the 500-home-run milestone as a Yankee probably crossed the front office's mind in 2024, and even last year when he was on a torrid run during the regular season. That shouldn't even be in the equation anymore.

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) hits a home run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Fenway Park. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If there's no season next year, there will be no reason to bring him back because it will be the last year of his deal anyway. If the lockout gives MLB a partial season, or, in the rare chance the owners and MLBPA come to a resolution this winter and they get to play a full year, cutting Stanton loose entirely should be on the table.

Stanton will be owed $15 million in the final year of his deal. It's something the Yankees can just swallow for a season while starting to build a more flexible roster.

Plus, Aaron Judge isn't young anymore by baseball standards. He'll be 35 next year, and, if there is no season in 2027, 36 when baseball returns. He might need to become the primary DH, and that could start as soon as this year when he is back.

Having both Stanton and Judge on the roster doesn't make much sense, and there's no reason to keep their captain on his feet just to fit Stanton into the lineup every day.

Get Yankees On SI straight to your inbox: sign up for our free newsletter here.

Add us as a preferred source on Google