It’s pretty rare to see an MVP player get traded right after such a stellar season, let alone someone who’s already in the middle of a massive 13-year, $325 million deal. But Yankees’ Brian Cashman pulled off something extraordinary. He managed to snag Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins, fresh off his incredible 59-home run season in 2018.

When the spotlight turned to Big G on the 2018 Opening Day, he absolutely owned the moment. His very first time at bat, and boom—he hits a home run. And he didn’t stop there. In the same game, he went yard again, making it a double homer day. It was like a debut out of a movie, and he didn’t slow down. By the end of his first season with New York, he’d smashed a whopping 38 home runs with a .281 average. Talk about making an entrance! After 2018, things took a bit of a tough turn with a string of injuries. In 2019, he could only make it to 18 games, and in 2020, which was already a shortened season, he appeared in just 23 games. It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride since then.

Big G’s forgettable 2022 & 2023 season

In 2021, things started looking up. He got plenty of time on the field, smashing 35 home runs at a .273 average, giving everyone a sneak peek of a potential full comeback. But, as fate would have it, 2022 began with promise but ended in struggle. He kicked off the year with an All-Star appearance in July, but the second half was tough, hitting a career-low of .211/.297/.462. It was also the first time his agility and athleticism were called into question when he clocked the slowest sprint speed among the Yankees, at 24.5 feet per second.

In 2023, he left his previous career low behind, only to set a new one with a stat line at .191/.275/.420. Sure, injuries played a part, but hey, he did hit his 400th career home run! However, it wasn’t the best of times for Big G.

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His base running was pretty lackluster, and as the offseason rolled in, it was clear he was going to face some tough criticism. And all this, mind you while being in the middle of that massive 13-year, $325 million contract. Now, we may have a leaner Stanton, but can he produce like before?

Fall out with Brian Cashman?

Everyone braced for some fan backlash, but what caught people off guard was Brian Cashman’s unexpected move. Known for his diplomatic ways, he surprisingly commented on Stanton’s fitness. To many, this felt a bit off, like it wasn’t quite in good faith and seemed to show a lack of loyalty. The New York Yankees GM claimed that the 5x All-Star was “going to wind up getting hurt again, more likely than not, because it seems to be part of his game.”

Stanton’s agent, Joel Wolfe, wasn’t happy when he heard that. He responded by saying, “It’s a good reminder for all free agents considering signing in New York, both foreign and domestic, that to play for that team you’ve got to be made of Teflon, both mentally and physically because you can never let your guard down, even in the offseason.” Interestingly, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese ace, shares the same agent as Stanton–Wolfe. Now, it’s pretty easy to speculate that maybe Cashman’s avoidable remarks played a role in why the Yankees didn’t land Yamamoto.

However, Cashman did redact his comments, in a serious damage control effort

“I value Giancarlo Stanton as a player. Without a doubt, he’s one of the big drivers when we do win. He’s one of the few players you bring to New York that hasn’t backed down, that has handled himself in a professional manner through thick and thin. He’s one of the few players that, when the money’s on the line—if you look at his postseason numbers, it’s pretty impressive..”

Will Giancarlo Stanton stay in New York?

I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Giancarlo Stanton. There’s something about him that’s just hard to dislike. He’s always upfront, acknowledging his weaknesses, and vowing to do better. I’m rooting for him to rediscover his mojo and most importantly, I’d love to see him hoist a World Series trophy, and I’m hoping it’s with the Yankees. In the tough, often unforgiving world of baseball, especially in New York, there’s little room for players who aren’t at the top of their game. So I hope he finds pace again (quite literally), and stays in New York till he chooses to hang up his boots.

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“I can’t produce like this season, so it’s got to change,” said Stanton when the Yanks played dead rubber games after being practically eliminated in 2023.

At the end of the season, Boone said, “I think you’re going to see a leaner Giancarlo,” and Giancarlo lived up to it, and we can see a leaner Stanton. What do you think about Stanton? Is this his final season in New York? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!