The New York Yankees have likely reached the juncture where they simply can’t afford to depend on Giancarlo Stanton anymore. That’s not hyperbole, it’s just reality.
Stanton’s latest injury has once again put his availability in question, with the veteran slugger dealing with a lower-body issue. The injury has raised concerns that he could miss significant time, potentially bringing his season to a grinding halt.
That’s a massive problem for the Yankees, not because Stanton is necessarily irreplaceable, but because New York has repeatedly built parts of its lineup around the assumption that he will eventually be available.
At some point, the Yankees need to end their wishful thinking. Stanton remains one of the most dangerous power hitters in baseball when he’s healthy. But that’s the problem.
When he’s healthy.
The Yankees can’t enter the postseason hoping Stanton will somehow be ready to go. The ballclub needs to build a lineup that works without him and treat anything Stanton provides as a bonus.
Yankees Need Someone to Replace Stanton’s Power
The obvious problem is that the Yankees lose a significant power bat if Stanton is unavailable. The team can’t simply replace that kind of slugging prowess by moving a player up one spot in the lineup.
Someone has to step up. Aaron Judge will naturally remain the centerpiece, but the Yankees need more from the rest of their lineup if Stanton is going to be unavailable for an extended period.
Players such as Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice could become particularly important. New York doesn’t necessarily need one player to replace Stanton’s production. It needs several players to collectively make up the difference.
That’s actually the more realistic solution. The Yankees have enough talent to survive without Stanton, but they can’t afford to have multiple hitters disappear at the same time. They need their lineup to become deeper.
That could mean giving younger players more opportunities or asking established hitters to take on greater responsibility. Whatever the solution is, New York needs to find it now.
Waiting for Stanton is no longer a strategy.
Even a Healthy Stanton Shouldn’t Change the Plan
Here’s the more controversial argument: Even if Stanton does return, the Yankees should consider building their October lineup as though he isn’t going to be available.
That doesn’t mean they should refuse to play him. If Stanton gets healthy and starts crushing baseballs again, great. Put him in the lineup. But the Yankees shouldn’t construct their postseason plans around that possibility.
They’ve been down this road before.
Stanton’s injury history makes him one of the least reliable pieces on the roster when it comes to projecting availability. Betting everything on him staying healthy through October is simply unnecessary risk.
If New York builds a deep enough lineup without Stanton, it effectively protects itself against another injury.
And if Stanton does return? The Yankees suddenly have an extra weapon. That’s a much better position to be in than desperately trying to figure out how to replace him two days before a playoff series.
The Yankees need to change the way they think about Stanton. He’s no longer someone they can reasonably expect to be available when they need him most.
He’s a potential bonus.
And if New York builds its postseason roster accordingly, another Stanton injury won’t completely derail the team’s October plans.
Yankees Should Just Forget About Giancarlo Stanton in October