The New York Yankees arrived at spring training with arguably a better and deeper roster than last season as the American League champions. Unfortunately, even with Opening Day 2025 more than a month out, there’s now concern over All-Star hitter Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton, who turned 35 in November, is coming off a career-best stretch in the postseason. He hit 7 home runs with 16 RBI and a 1.048 OPS in 14 games, at times carrying the Yankees lineup in October. After a full offseason to rest and prepare for the 2025 campaign, there is now uncertainty regarding his availability for Opening Day.
- Giancarlo Stanton stats (ESPN): .233/.298/.475, .773 OPS, 27 home runs, 72 RBI, 20 doubles, 49 runs scored in 417 at-bats
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Speaking to reporters at spring training, Boone announced that Stanton is “behind schedule” due to an elbow issue that will linger throughout the 2025 season and could jeopardize his availability for the home opener at the end of March.
“He was doing stuff and then he kind of shut down getting treatments. It’s just something we don’t want to rush if we can get it to a really good spot. We’re going to probably deal with some maintenance with it throughout the year but just don’t want to force anything too early.”
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone on the Giancarlo Stanton injury (via The Athletic)
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Boone compared the issue to a “tennis elbow” and noted that Stanton played through it in the second half of the regular season and the playoffs. New York is going to “slow play him” for a while, attempting to reduce the risk of the elbow soreness worsening.
- Giancarlo Stanton contract (Spotrac): $32 million salary in 2025, $19 million salary in 2026, $15 million salary in 2027, $15 million club option for 2028
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Entering 2025, Stanton hasn’t reached 420 at-bats in a single season since 2021. He was sidelined from June 23 until July 29 last year and when he returned, the Yankees’ designated hitter had a .210/.292/.446 slash line with a .738 OPS in 157 at-bats.
Amid a myriad of injuries in the last three years, Stanton’s production has also plummeted. After slashing .269/.353/.510 with a .864 OPS and a 134 wRC+ in his first four seasons with New York, the club’s designated hitter now has a .212/.291/.454 slash line with a .744 OPS and 106 wRC+ in the last three seasons. Any absence would be a significant loss of power for the Yankees lineup in 2025.
