The Yankees just took another hit before Opening Day. This time, it’s Giancarlo Stanton, their go-to power hitter, sidelined with tendinitis in both elbows. He hasn’t swung a bat in weeks, and now the MVP of the ALCS is out. That’s a massive blow. So, what does this mean for the Yankees? Can they fill the void, or is this a disaster waiting to happen?

Well, Stanton is the only player other than Steve Garvey in MLB history to win an All-Star Game MVP (2022), a League MVP (2017, NL), and a Championship Series MVP. Last year, Giancarlo Stanton’s batting average with the New York Yankees was .233. In 114 games, he also recorded 20 doubles, 27 home runs, and 72 RBIs. With seven home runs, sixteen RBIs, and nine runs scored in 14 games throughout the postseason, he had a .273 batting average. Enough to consider him one of the biggest contributors for the Yankees last year. What is his possibility of returning to the team soon?

Not soon. Stanton’s condition has deteriorated since his arrival in the spring, and the reports have been increasingly unclear and worrisome. Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters during spring training on Wednesday that Stanton had received another round of PRP injections to speed up the healing process and that surgery “would be a last resort” to fix the problem. With their second-most vital bat, which they will undoubtedly need for a deep playoff run in 2025, the Yankees appear to be caught in a holding pattern. What is the scope for the Yankees to replace Stanton and ensure their postseason run?

The Yankees’ scope sans Giancarlo Stanton

With Stanton out, Ben Rice is a logical alternative. Although he doesn’t have the best defense at first base or behind the plate, he has already shown tremendous power in the first few spring games. For the unversed, he already scored 1 HR and 2 RBIs, which proves his potential to be a good major league hitter. Thus, on opening day, he ought to be in the lineup. With the loss of Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees lost right-handed hitters. Thus, players like Everson Pereira can come in handy, equaling the left-heavy lineup. 

The Yankees can also look out for any experienced designated hitter in free agency. Well, who’s better than the veteran JD Martinez here? He is still a hitter who‘s going above average at the age of 36, hitting .235/.320/.406 for a 108 wRC+ in 120 games. Martinez recorded 16 home runs, 69 RBIs, a batting average of .235, and an OPS of .725 in 2024. Thus, he can also be a potent option for the Yankees to replace Stanton. While options are diverse, the Yankees need to get someone worth like Stanton, eyeing their postseason run.

There are multiple options left for the team both inside and outside, and time will answer how the Yankees are dealing with this situation.

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