Yankees' puzzling Giancarlo Stanton decision likely cost them another Red Sox series

Giancarlo Stanton began his rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset going 3-for-4 with four RBI. Ever since, he's gone 0-for-7, but that doesn't really matter. With the timing of it all, every New York Yankees fan was under the impression he was making his 2025 debut against the Boston Red Sox this weekend. Because how many minor league at-bats did Stanton really need?

But the Yankees didn't make the move Friday. They didn't make the move Saturday. And then manager Aaron Boone said during Saturday's broadcast that Stanton was coming back for the team's series against the LA Angels beginning on Monday.

Rushing Stanton back was never of interest to anybody. He's already in a precarious situation with his double elbow injury and we don't know how long he'll even be able to last in 2025. But the Yankees very clearly had a window to bring Stanton back for a statement series against their chief rival, and they let the Red Sox off the hook. Of course, they lost the first two games in gutting fashion because of silly mistakes and umpire malfeasance.

Would Stanton have immediately dominated upon his return? Probably not. He always needs a couple of weeks to get going. But his presence in the lineup would've greatly helped elevate those around him.

Simply put: the Yankees need every advantage possible against the Red Sox nowadays, and they not only don't take that seriously, but they continue to gift Boston with bailouts.

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The most puzzling aspect of all is that the Yankees seemingly knew Stanton would not be playing for Somerset on Saturday if the weather wasn't permissible. And that was the case. He got the night off on Saturday. So if they knew that was likely going to be the case, then why didn't they just send him up to Boston on Friday night so he could play Saturday and Sunday? One extra game at Double-A on Sunday was never going to be anything of consequence for the star slugger.

Red Sox fans were actually worried about Stanton coming back. He's the lone Yankees player that steps up frequently against the Yankees' No. 1 rival. New York could've shifted the mental momentum back in their favor this weekend after last week's embarrassing series loss at Yankee Stadium.

They're happy to wait, though, because the Yankees almost never act with urgency. The Red Sox, regardless of their record, will hang their heads high knowing they beat the Yankees twice to start off the 2025 season and can enjoy that comfortability before they go up against one another again in August.

It is what it is, we guess. Fans would like for the middling Red Sox not to have the Yankees' number, especially when they've unexpectedly been among the best teams in the league after Juan Soto's departure. Let's just hope these early-season wins over the Yankees don't give Boston enough life to sneak into the Wild Card, because you know we'll be looking back on this if that's the case.