Giancarlo Stanton supplied an replace this morning concerning the elbow accidents which have saved him from taking part in this spring. He informed reporters, together with Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, that the issue is “thought of extreme” in every of his elbows. The Yankees DH stays unsure as to when he’ll have the ability to return to baseball actions of any variety. Whereas he doesn’t but know if double elbow surgical procedure will probably be mandatory, he mentioned that if he goes below the knife, the surgical procedures will rule him out for the 2025 season. Fortunately, GM Brian Cashman just lately described surgical procedure as a “final resort” for Stanton (per Hoch).
The 35-year-old has acquired two rounds of PRP injections in each elbows, and he’ll go for a 3rd spherical subsequent week. Whereas Stanton is at present with the remainder of his Yankees teammates at camp, supervisor Aaron Boone informed reporters (together with Hoch) that the DH is unlikely to see any sport motion in spring coaching. Final weekend, the Yankees introduced that Stanton would open the season on the IL. They didn’t present a timetable for his return. In the present day’s replace doesn’t essentially push that already unsure timeline again any additional, however Stanton’s use of the phrase “extreme” definitely isn’t promising, neither is the chance that he may miss the whole 2025 marketing campaign.
It’s onerous to know what to consider the truth that Stanton attributed his elbow issues to “bat changes” he made in 2024. On the one hand, it’s encouraging that he was capable of establish the issue; hopefully, meaning he is aware of the best way to keep away from reaggravating the problem as soon as he begins to swing a bat once more. However, Stanton’s highly effective swing is his signature ability. Even in his mid-thirties, he had the quickest swing velocity in MLB final season, in accordance with Statcast. It’s price questioning if he could make the required bat changes to maintain his elbows protected with out weakening his swing.
Whereas it has been years since Stanton was a real celebrity, he was nonetheless a beneficial contributor to New York’s pennant-winning squad in 2024. He crushed 27 house runs with 72 RBI and a 116 wRC+. His bat was notably potent within the playoffs; he hit seven homers in 14 video games, with a team-leading 16 RBI. The Yankees made some stable additions to the highest half of their order this winter, buying and selling for Cody Bellinger and signing free agent Paul Goldschmidt. Nonetheless, their offense doesn’t venture to be fairly as potent with out Juan Soto to bat in entrance of Aaron Decide. Shedding Stanton for any time period will solely additional weaken the lineup.
Boone mentioned earlier this week that he likes the in-house candidates the crew has to interchange Stanton, “particularly towards right-handed pitching” (per Hoch). That would imply utilizing Decide at DH extra typically and beginning the lefty-batting Trent Grisham within the outfield. Whereas Grisham’s bat is a far cry from Stanton’s, such an association would enhance the outfield protection and will assist Decide keep wholesome all through the season. One other lefty-batting choice to get some reps at DH is Ben Rice. Though he struggled in his rookie season (73 wRC+ in 178 PA), Rice mashed all through the minors and will supply some energy in Stanton’s stead. J.C. Escarra is one other left-handed hitter on the 40-man roster. He’s nearing 30 and has but to make his MLB debut, however he hit effectively final season in his first 12 months within the Yankees group. Dominic Smith, a veteran non-roster invitee in camp this spring, is one other left-handed bat to remember.
In the meantime, the most probably possibility to affix the combination towards left-handed pitching, whether or not within the outfield or at DH, might be Everson Pereira. Like Rice, Pereira struggled in his transient debut final season however has at all times hit effectively – particularly within the energy division – within the minor leagues. In seven video games this spring, Pereira is batting .375 with a 1.224 OPS. He has been restricted to DH responsibility in spring coaching as he rehabs from UCL surgical procedure, however he may ultimately take some reps for Decide within the outfield as effectively.
Lastly, one has to marvel if Cashman is considering making a proposal to free agent J.D. Martinez. Whereas the Yankees couldn’t feasibly roster each Stanton and Martinez, season-ending surgical procedure for the previous may open the door for the latter. To that finish, New York has reportedly had “some contact with” Martinez. In a latest MLBTR ballot, a plurality of respondents voted the Yankees because the most probably touchdown spot for the 37-year-old DH.
