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Giancarlo Stanton’s Absence Forces Yankees to Alter Lineup

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The Yankees will need to make some adjustments to their lineup in the wake of Giancarlo Stanton's elbow troubles.

With spring training just getting underway, the New York Yankees have already been dealt a tough blow to their lineup. Giancarlo Stanton, perhaps the team’s most key contributor to last season’s postseason run, will likely not be ready for Opening Day on March 27th.

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With pain in both elbows that manager Aaron Boone has likened to “tennis elbow”, there’s a good chance that Stanton could miss significant time, especially considering his injury history. This will have an unfortunate effect on the Yankees’ lineup, which typically sees Stanton batting from the fourth or fifth slot. Accordingly, this will force Boone to make some changes, which could also provide an opportunity for certain players.

Yankees Lineup Will Have to Adjust to Giancarlo Stanton’s Absence

Loss of Power

Despite missing over a month of last season due to hamstring issues, the former MVP still put up solid numbers, hitting 27 homers with an OPS of .773 over 114 games. In the postseason, he hit 7 homers with 16 RBI and an OPS of 1.048 over 14 games en route to winning ALCS MVP. Even with age and a body only getting more rattled by injury, Stanton is still a crucial piece of this Yankees team. Replacing him will not be easy, but unlike last year’s team, this squad has more depth and hitters who can step up in his absence.

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Hole at DH

Boone has said, even before news of Stanton’s injury, that there would be days when captain Aaron Judge takes up the designated hitter spot. This, in turn, means that newly-acquired center fielder Cody Bellinger will move to right field, leaving center field open. Fourth outfielder Trent Grisham will likely see some time in center thanks to his excellent defense. However, Boone could potentially play Jasson Domínguez there as well, being that center is his natural position.

Regardless of who Boone decides to play where, there is still a hole in either the outfield or on the bench. This is where the “fifth outfielder” comes in, and as of now, it looks to be Dominic Smith. The Yankees signed the former New York Met to a minor league deal last month, and Boone has spoken highly of the first baseman/outfielder.

“The guy’s been a really good hitter throughout his career, a pro hitter,” said Boone. “We’ll even probably try to get him out in the outfield a little bit, so we’ll just see.”

Secondary Options

Though Boone appears optimistic about what Smith can do, he may not be the best solution. Since 2021, the 29-year-old has appeared in 449 games, hitting .241/.311/.360 with 29 home runs and 155 RBI. Not terrible for a bench option, but an opportunity to hit every day may be better suited for certain younger players.

For example, take Ben Rice. Dominating Triple-A at the end of last season, the first baseman is clearly ready to make the jump to the big leagues full-time. Last season, Rice’s hitting fell off a cliff when he was subject to a platoon/bench role. If he’s given the chance to play more consistently, rather than sitting on the bench, he could blossom into the hitter fans thought he would be when he hit three homers in a single game against the Boston Red Sox last July.

If not Rice, there’s also Oswald Peraza. The third baseman is out of minor league options, so if the Yankees wish to keep him on the roster, they may as well see what he’s got. He could also be a solution to their third base problem, so unless he has a horrible showing this spring, there’s a good chance he gets some reps at third or even at DH.

The Last Word

While the loss of Stanton is certainly a tough one for this Yankees’ lineup, there could be positive ramifications for a few key players. With a spot in the lineup now opened up, it will be interesting to see how spring training plays out and how Boone and the Yankees’ brass decide on who to play and where to play them come Opening Day. Regardless, the Yankees will likely be fine no matter who takes Stanton’s spot. This is a key difference in comparing last season’s squad to this year’s. With more depth and variety throughout the lineup, in addition to an even better pitching staff, it’s not outrageous to say that the Yankees have a similar, if not better, shot at making another run at the Fall Classic in 2025.

 

Photo Credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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