Yankees might've just signaled Giancarlo Stanton intentions after Luis García Jr. trade

At first, the fit for the newest New York Yankees acquisition, Luis Garcia Jr., seems like an odd one. Originally a second baseman, Garcia Jr. moved to first base after a dreadful defensive performance last season that was highlighted by -17 defensive runs saved. The Yankees already have two first basemen on their roster, Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt, making it all seem a bit curious on the surface.

However, a closer look reveals that the pieces do come together quite nicely. For now. Rice, who is no great shakes in the field himself, can primarily DH, while the right-handed-hitting Goldschmidt and left-handed-hitting Garcia Jr. platoon. The 38-year-old Goldy has worn down over a more significant workload, but he has a .987 OPS against southpaws (versus a .581 mark against righties), while Garcia Jr. has a .918 OPS against righties and a .627 mark against lefties.

Quite clearly, New York has found a way to manufacture superstar-level production from first base with these two sharing time at the position. That only works if the team's best and most consistent hitter this season, Rice, can DH, which brings us to the elephant in the room: Giancarlo Stanton.

It's been easy to forget about Stanton, who last played on April 24 and was originally listed as day-to-day with a "minor" calf strain. Weeks turned into months, and then Stanton strained the same calf muscle again in what was called an entirely new injury. The 36-year-old is set to take a few live batting practice sessions this week. Or maybe he'll just be watching rehabbing pitchers throw? Whatever the case is, he's still a long way from coming back.

Luis Garcia Jr.'s addition might signal the end of Giancarlo Stanton's Yankees career

Garcia Jr. comes to the Bronx with team control through next season, as long as there is a next season, meaning he has future implications for the club beyond 2026. His presence means there will be fewer at-bats for others, and no, that does not mean that Ben Rice is ticketed out of town.

2027 is also the final year of Stanton's contract, though there is a club option for 2028. Even if 2026 proves to be Goldschmidt's last year in pinstripes, you can already start to see the logjam forming.

However, the money the Marlins are kicking in on the trade by virtue of Stanton declining to opt out of his contract following the 2020 season has begun to kick in, and it could help the Yankees come to a much-needed decision on the oft-injured slugger's future.

What makes sense is to continue to bring Stanton along slowly as an insurance policy. Should an injury occur to Rice, Garcia Jr., or Goldschmidt, New York may need his bat, and as long as he's on the 40-man roster as of September 1, he'll be eligible to be on the postseason roster. Regular-season Stanton may be a mixed bag, but we all know what playoff Stanton can do, and the Yankees would be wise to keep that option open.

Beyond this season, though, it makes sense to cut ties. Thanks to the money from the Marlins, the Yankees only owe Stanton $15 million in 2027, which is conveniently the same amount they owe DJ LeMahieu this year. After 2026, the Yankees rid themselves of LeMahieu's money for good, so they can simply replace that loss with the hit from cutting Stanton loose next year.

Next season is the final year of Stanton's contract, though there is a club option for 2028 that comes with a $10 million buyout. The money from Miami covers that buyout, so it would only be one year that the Yankees would be taking a loss.

It's a sad thing because Stanton has had his moments in pinstripes, and a lot of the issues with him have not been his fault. At the same time, his body is breaking down, and if it's not the elbows, it's a calf injury or something else that keeps him on the shelf. At a certain point, the Yankees can't keep wasting a roster spot on him, and Garcia Jr. just indirectly made him redundant. Hedging against his return for 2026 is one thing. Fairly explicitly stating that next year, he's either in the Goldschmidt spot or he's gone, is quite another. He should be around for the rest of this season, but after that, New York should bid farewell to Big G.

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