Back in 2017, the New York Yankees went on an exciting playoff run and came within one win of reaching the World Series. Even though they fell short, the team had a promising young core. They appeared to be building toward a potential championship in the next few years. That offseason, they made a blockbuster move to acquire former National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton.
They teamed him up with Aaron Judge to form one of the most dangerous power-hitting duos in baseball. However, Stanton has struggled to stay healthy throughout his Yankees tenure. The team has also failed to achieve its ultimate goal of a World Series. This season, he has only played 24 games due to a calf strain and may not return. With his age and lengthy injury history, fans and analysts have questioned whether Giancarlo Stanton’s time with the Yankees will end after the 2026 season.
Injuries Define Stanton’s Yankee Tenure
On April 27, Stanton was placed on the injured list with a right calf strain. He hasn’t played a game for the Yankees since April 24. Last week, he suffered a setback while rehabbing from the injury. He strained his left calf after falling while running the bases. With only a month left in the regular season, it will be difficult for Stanton to come back, though manager Aaron Boone did not explicitly say that he is out for the season.
Injuries haven’t been anything new for Stanton during his nine seasons in New York. He has missed 592 regular-season games since joining the team in 2018. Stanton has appeared in 56% of possible regular-season games. Many of these injuries have been hamstring and other soft-tissue problems, which have limited his ability to run the bases and play the outfield. Anytime Yankees fans see him running the bases, they worry about him pulling a muscle and missing months of action.
He Did Show Up in the Big Moments
Stanton has been healthy during the postseason, which is where he has had some of his best Yankees moments. He was especially clutch during the 2024 playoff run, helping lead New York to their first American League pennant since 2009. In Game 5 of the ALCS against the Guardians, Stanton hit a game-tying home run to propel them to the series victory and punch their ticket to the World Series. During that series, Stanton hit four home runs and drove in seven runs, leading to him winning the ALCS MVP award.
This is what makes Stanton’s Yankee tenure so complicated. When on the field, he is one of the best hitters in the league and makes the lineup even more dangerous for opposing pitchers. Fans will always remember that postseason run where he put the team on his back, along with many other incredible home runs. However, New York hasn’t been able to win that 28th World Series title during this era, despite Stanton and plenty of other talent on the roster.
Stanton’s large contract has limited the Yankees’ financial flexibility to improve other positions. His inability to play the outfield locks him into the designated hitter position and prevents them from using other guys like Judge at that spot. If Stanton doesn’t decide to retire, it could be challenging for New York to move on from him after the season.
Stanton Is Still Owed a Lot of Money
Stanton will be making $25 million in 2027. That is a significant investment for a player who is pretty much guaranteed to miss games every season. His contract also includes a $25 million club option for 2028 with a $10 million buyout. Additionally, he has a full no-trade clause, meaning he would have to approve a trade to another team.
It is hard to see another team trade for a 36-year-old player with a significant injury history and a massive salary. Assuming that is the case, Stanton will be back with the Yankees in 2027. If there is no lockout and the season happens, that could be his final season in New York if he doesn’t decide to hang up his cleats. They would likely buy out his contract in 2028.
If they do find teams interested in Stanton, they should pursue a trade. Moving on from Stanton would allow the Yankees to use Aaron Judge more at DH. That can keep him healthy as he gets later into his career. Right now, they have been using Ben Rice as the primary DH with Luis Garcia Jr. at first base. They could continue with that lineup next year if Stanton is gone.
He May Want To Keep Playing
Giancarlo is the active MLB home run leader with 456 career home runs. So he may want to play another season or two to reach 500 home runs. If he does reach that milestone, he would have a good case to make the Hall of Fame.
Ultimately, if this is it for Stanton as a Yankee, his tenure was filled with plenty of ups and downs. From clutch hits to long home runs, he gave fans moments that they will remember forever. However, his time has also been filled with disappointment. His inability to stay on the field for a full season is the main reason.
If New York can’t win a World Series with this core, the trade will go down as a massive failure.
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