Aaron Judge and Clarke Schmidt are the only Yankees still with the club longer than Giancarlo Stanton, who entered his ninth season in New York after the December 2017 three‑player deal with Miami. Realistically, he’s only logged parts of those nine years, as injuries have dogged his pinstripe run.
Out of a possible 1,356 games over that span, Stanton appeared in just 764. He reached 500 plate appearances in only two seasons. The 2026 year delivered his third‑fewest games, with calf strains limiting him to 26 regular‑season contests and two playoff pinch‑hit outings.
In those postseason at‑bats he struck out both times, his first action since late April. During the regular season he posted a modest .250/.320/.422 line with three homers in 96 trips, yielding a wRC+ of 102—the second‑lowest of his 17‑year career.
Since 2022 Stanton has posted a 114 wRC+ across 1,703 plate appearances, highlighted by a 157 wRC+ in 281 PA in 2025 (.273/.350/.594, 24 long balls). Turning 37 next month, it’s hard to picture him returning to a field role given his recurring ailments. He’s essentially been a DH for years, seeing no defensive snaps in 2024 or 2026, though he logged 20 outfield games in 2025.
With the Yankees still reeling from another lackluster playoff run, the question looms: could this be Stanton’s final Yankee appearance? He’s entering the last guaranteed year of his 13‑year, $325 million deal signed in 2014, with $25 million due in 2027. New York holds a $25 million 2028 club option likely to be bought out for $10 million, leaving $35 million guaranteed.
That figure shrinks thanks to the original Miami trade. After Stanton declined his 2020 opt‑out, the Marlins agreed to pay $30 million to New York, split into $5 million installments from 2026‑2028. Two payments are already in the books, so counting Miami’s upcoming $20 million, the Yankees’ share of his guaranteed salary drops to $15 million.
On pure economics, a $15 million gamble seems tempting. For my money, the Bronx should give Stanton a short‑term shot and see if any spark remains. He dazzled in 2025 and earned ALCS MVP honors in 2024, proving that when he clicks he can still menace any pitcher.
Manager Aaron Boone floated the idea that Luis Garcia Jr. might shift back to second base after spending 2026 at first or as a DH with the Nationals and Yankees. Garcia showed solid first‑base work, shedding his earlier defensive woes at second, and the coaching staff believes further improvement is possible.
If Garcia moves to second and Ben Rice returns to full‑time first base, the DH slot opens for Stanton. Should Stanton land on the injured list, New York could revert to Garcia at first and Rice as DH, or keep both in the infield and rotate other players through the DH role. Aaron Judge could see extra DH duties after his injury‑marred 2026 campaign, as keeping him healthy remains paramount.
The stark alternative is cutting Stanton outright. At $15 million, the Yankees could absorb the cost and release him. A trade appears unlikely given his no‑trade clause and the hesitation of teams to shoulder even a portion of that sum.
Letting him go would sacrifice a potent power bat, yet the club may deem his limited speed, defensive inflexibility, and risk of missing large chunks of 2027 outweigh the upside. Replacing him with a younger, more athletic player could address the defensive lapses that plagued the ALDS loss to the Rays.
The Yankees remain hungry after another playoff disappointment. Though the roster is positioned to contend in 2027, merely reaching October won’t satisfy the impatient Bronx crowd. Judge warned that the club must ‘go all‑in, fill the holes, and get what we need.’ Stripping Stanton to free a roster spot might answer that call, but will New York find the right pieces to chase a championship?