New York Yankees: The top four worst contracts on the current roster

Giancarlo Stanton

Last but certainly not least is Giancarlo Stanton. Since coming to New York his contract has quickly risen up the ranks as one of the worst in franchise history. It’s not at A-Rod’s or Jacoby Ellsbury’s level yet, but it could end up haunting the team much more in the long run.

He’s got another eight years left on the 13-year, $325M contract he signed with the Marlins before he was traded to the Yanks back in December of 2018. The Yankees will pay him $234M over the final eight years of his deal, assuming he never invokes one of his seven opt-out clauses (he won’t).

After a solid but somewhat underwhelming first season with the Yanks Stanton barely played in 2019, only appearing in 18 games because of injuries. He came back for the postseason but he strained his squad in Game 1 of the ALCS and missed four of the next five games. This spring he entered camp healthy but it didn’t take long for him to suffer a calf strain doing outfield drills. If it wasn’t for the coronavirus delaying the season he would have started the season on the IL.

Stanton is in better shape than just about every player in baseball but he continues to suffer injuries doing the most basic things like running out a routine groundball or sliding into a base. It’s hard to comprehend and there’s not much reason for optimism that he’s going to be able to stay healthy over the course of the next eight years.

Stanton still has plenty of time to turn things around and get back into the good graces of Yankees fans, although it’s going to be an uphill climb. Taking on his contract will probably never end up looking like a smart investment by the Yankees but if he can stay healthy and help them win a couple of championships all will be forgiven.