The Yankees received some good news regardingAaron Judge's elbow injury after Saturday's loss, but now they have another issue to address, and that's who will play the outfield.
New York does have the trio of Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger — Saturday's starting outfield — already, but it's left-handed dominant. Dominguez is a switch-hitter but is a much better left-handed batter. Judge counteracted that imbalance with his presence, but with him unable to man right field for at least two weeks, the Yankees are turning to Giancarlo Stanton.
Yes, Stanton, who has been the team's designated hitter this season, will begin working to be an option in the outfield this week.
"Whatever is going to put us in the best opportunity to win, and for all circumstances, I believe that’s for me to be in the outfield," Stanton said of the opportunity. "[I'll] be working out there this coming week and be ready when needed."
Manager Aaron Boone approached Stanton when Judge's elbow issues sprang up earlier this week about potentially getting in work. And now that Judge is officially landing on the IL, the plan is for Stanton to get back out there since Judge will be solely a DH for a few days when he first comes back.
There aren't a lot of details on the plan for Stanton in the outfield just yet. The 35-year-old said he's open to playing either left or right field, but is confident his defensive skills are not gone after not having played the field since 2023.
"I’ll have to figure it out. There will be a little rust to knock out this week," Stanton said. "[That's] another thing that doesn't matter. There’s no excuses when you get out there."
"It’ll be good to be back out there," he later added. "This is a point that’s best for the team. Anything I can do. It’s not going to be like I’ve never been out there before."
Stanton has played the outfield in more than 1500 games in his career, 1063 coming in right field, including 31 back in 2023, but the slugger's return as a defensive presence offers the Yankees the flexibility needed until Judge returns from the IL. It'll be difficult to replace Judge's MVP offensive numbers, but Stanton has delivered his signature power numbers since his return from the IL.
In 28 games this season, Stanton is slashing .277/.358/.532 with seven home runs and 20 RBI with an OPS of .890. That includes his two-run blast in Saturday's game.
The Yankees will need that production to overcome Judge's absence, and Stanton believes the team can.
"We’re going to have to figure it out," he said. "Everyone is going to have to step up, and weather the storm until he comes back."
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