The Yankees are close to getting their postseason hero back in the lineup.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman provided an encouraging update on Giancarlo Stanton, who is recovering from tennis elbow in both elbows.
“Stanton has been doing everything,” Cashman said on MLB Network Radio. “He’s kind of completed his base running now. He’s been hitting for a long time with that tremendous BP machine we have, so he’s been getting live at-bats. He’s scheduled for live BP for the next two weeks and I think he’s getting really close to doing a rehab assignment thereafter.”
The 35-year-old hasn’t played since his postseason tear for the 2024 American League Champions.
Stanton’s return will cause some uncomfortable conversations as the Bombers have one too many bats with not enough spots to put them. Aaron Boone is already rotating three outfielders in two spots with Cody Bellinger, Jasson Dominugez and Trent Grisham. Now, the Yanks will have two DH’s in Ben Rice and the returning Stanton.
How Boone will split up playing time will be something to keep an eye on early. Rice is slashing .245/.335/.858 with 10 homers and 22 RBI in 44 games this season and has been statistically one of the hardest hitters in baseball.
The Bombers haven’t exactly struggled without Stanton either. They lead the AL in batting average, OPS, home runs, RBI’s and virtually every other offensive category.
Stanton enjoyed a bounce-back 2024 regular season as well. After posting. a .695 OPS in 2023, the veteran slashed .233/.298/.475 with 27 homers and 72 RBI in 114 games,
