At this point, it doesn’t feel wrong to suggest that the New York Yankees don’t need Giancarlo Stanton, and Giancarlo Stanton doesn’t need the New York Yankees.
Luckily for the injury-plagued Stanton, he almost certainly won’t have to worry about leaving the Bronx this summer—not unless he wants to leave, of course.
Counting this season, Stanton has three years and $86 million remaining on his deal. The Yankees (or any other team employing Stanton) also have an $18 million club option for 2028, though he’d still reap the benefits of a $10 million buyout.
More importantly, Stanton has a full no-trade clause. Stanton also fits the qualification needed for a 10-and-5 player, meaning he’s accrued 10 years of service time and spent the past five seasons with the same team.
Why is this relevant? Suppose the Yankees wanted to trade Stanton this summer, clearing the role for Ben Rice to be the full-time DH or split reps with veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. What is easy in MLB The Show is essentially impossible in real life.
New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton
David Dermer-Imagn Images
Stanton must approve any trade, whether it’s to the contending Los Angeles Dodgers or the downtrodden Colorado Rockies. The Yankees cannot simply dump Stanton’s salary without him permitting that move.
The Yankees also have no reason to cut Stanton and absorb the rest of his contract. They’re stuck with those three years and $66 million or four years and $86 million.
When Stanton is in the lineup, he’s remained a prolific home run hitter who mashed seven long balls across 62 postseason plate appearances last fall. It’s also worth noting, though, that the Yankees made the playoffs in six of Stanton’s first seven seasons despite him only playing at least 120 games twice.
Stanton missed almost all of 2019 with biceps, knee, and quad issues, and he’s yet to play a game this year while recovering from tennis elbow in both arms. He also missed parts of the last two seasons with lower body injuries.
The Yankees regularly earn playoff berths without Stanton being a reliable presence, and they’re yet to win a title since he joined the club. Barring something completely unexpected, Stanton is almost guaranteed to be a part of any upcoming ring ceremony—whether the Yankees want him in pinstripes or not.
