{"id":74734,"date":"2024-05-28T14:15:51","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T18:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=74734"},"modified":"2024-05-28T14:15:51","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T18:15:51","slug":"stanton-yankees-success-mlb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/05\/28\/stanton-yankees-success-mlb\/","title":{"rendered":"The Giancarlo Stanton Paradox"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a career-worst year last season, Giancarlo Stanton seems to be back on track<\/a> in 2024. However, things aren’t as great as they seem. Yes, Stanton has mashed 13 homers so far this season, but that doesn’t dispel perhaps one of the worst contracts in Major League Baseball. The Yankees must answer some vital questions concerning their full-time designated hitter.<\/p>\n

The Giancarlo Stanton Paradox<\/h2>\n

What’s Left on Stanton’s Contract?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Stanton is under team control through 2027, meaning he has three seasons left after 2024. From 2024-25, Stanton is owed a monstrous $64 million, with another $34 million over the final two years (26′-27′). Thankfully for the Yankees, they are “off the hook” for those last two years thanks to the Marlins, who are paying the remainder of Stanton’s salary.<\/p>\n

The question, however, is not if the Yankees will cut Stanton before the end of his deal. It is simply a matter of when. It will likely be after Hal Steinbrenner<\/a> has seen enough mediocre play from one of the Yankees’ biggest liabilities.<\/p>\n

But Stanton’s play has not been mediocre this season. Sure, he is by no means playing at an All-Star level. But what matters for Stanton is that he is consistently doing what he does best: putting the ball out of the park. Unfortunately for the Yankees, his on-field play adds to their off-field dilemma.<\/p>\n

Will Stanton See Consistent Playing Time?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The answer is, well, maybe. If he keeps hitting home runs the way he has, Aaron Boone and Co. have no choice but to let him play. After all, paying a guy $32 million to sit on the bench would be a huge financial waste. But if Stanton struggles, the Yankees might just bite the bullet and sit him (especially if Jasson Dominguez returns<\/a> and plays well).<\/p>\n

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Giancarlo Stanton in 2024:<\/p>\n

115 OPS+
\n.764 OPS
\n9 HRs
\n22 RBIs<\/p>\n

If the Yankees get this level of production from Stanton all year, the lineup is gonna be a nightmare for opposing pitcherspic.twitter.com\/qxQKz62mO9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Salvatore (@MikeSalvatore10) May 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n