The New York Yankees’ lineup continues to take hits. With Juan Soto bolting to the New York Mets after one season in the Bronx, the Yankees could be without another top slugger for the foreseeable future.
Giancarlo Stanton — who hit 27 home runs last season — is currently shut down as he’s dealing with tennis elbow in both elbows. It’s just the latest in a litany of injuries the five-time All-Star has dealt with in recent years. Over the last three seasons, he hasn’t played in more than 114 games.
On top of that, Stanton is currently not in camp due to a personal issue, and it’s not known when he will return.
With the probability rising that Stanton won’t be ready for Opening Day and that an injured list stint could be on the horizon, the Yankees have reached out to a six-time All-Star currently without a team.
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MLB insider: New York Yankees touched base with free-agent slugger J.D. Martinez
New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports the Yankees have had “some contact with” J.D. Martinez’s representatives amid Stanton’s latest injury.
The veteran is currently unsigned after spending 2024 with the New York Mets, where he hit 16 home runs while posting a .725 OPS and 106 OPS+.
It makes sense for the Yankees to check in on Martinez, who is just two years removed from an All-Star berth. He’s a right-handed hitter who still has some pop left in his bat and could adequately fill in for Stanton while he is out. However, he is a designated hitter only at this point in his career and would not play the field.
Martinez — who made $12 million last year — also wouldn’t cost much to sign as New York’s estimated luxury tax payroll sits at $305.1 million for 2025, according to FanGraphs. That’s $4 million above the highest tax threshold, meaning the Yankees will be taxed 110% for every dollar overage.
Over 14 seasons, Martinez has put up impressive numbers, cranking out 331 home runs while posting an .863 OPS and 131 OPS+.
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