Call them “The Evil Empire” as the Yankees are known. Call the New York Yankees a franchise that always gets the player because they have the resources but acquiring Giancarlo Stanton Saturday from the Miami Marlins shows the Yankees did strike again.
And to get the reigning National League MVP, it did not cost GM Brian Cashman much to strike again. Starlin Castro became expendable with the Yankees ready to bring up prospect Gleyber Torres. The other prospects, Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers will be remembered as the fill in players in what could be the offseason trade of the year.
The Derek Jeter owned Marlins down in South Beach, and with a Yankees connection that no doubt contributed to this deal, made this deal possible. And with a salary dump going on down in Miami, Stanton was expendable as the Yankees pick up $265 Million of the $295 that is owed on that lucrative contract.
The Yankees, as is always the situation, could do it. Not the Cardinals or any other team and that includes the crosstown Mets who are no longer a talk when it comes to baseball teams in New York.
One baseball executive said Saturday, “What wins is pitching and the Yankees would have been the favorites to win even without Stanton.” However with Giancarlo Stanton in the Bronx, and in the same lineup with Aaron Judge, the two combined can hit over 100 home runs.
The last time the Yankees had a duo like that it was with Maris and Mantle in 1961. And that was in the old Yankee Stadium, so envision what this will be come April in the Bronx.
Have all the tools you need on the mound, assuming CC Sabathia is re-signed, and that appears almost certain, Stanton, Judge, with Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird sandwiched in between and that makes this New York Yankees lineup pretty darn good and dangerous.
Powerful enough to overtake the original “Murderer’s Row” and establish all-time records for home runs and important runs scored, and that makes the Yankees a team to be considered now as the team to take it all in 2018.
Perhaps this is jumping the gun, because baseball is a 162-game season, and there is that possibility an injury prone Stanton could miss some games. Judge is coming off shoulder surgery and you never know what will happen during the long season.
And there is that tendency of Judge and Stanton striking out, as they often do. But these power hitters also get on base with the walk and the hit when they are not swinging for the fences.
The same executive said about the Yankees acquisition for Stanton. “It’s winning the lottery. It really precipitates a lot of other movers. Amazing they did not give up a lot to get him.”
Where and how Aaron Boone, the new manager plays them will be determined. Does Stanton DH or play in left? Do Judge and Stanton bat back-to-back? Boone has that task and comes into a good situation as the rookie manager.
Keep in mind that Stanton can opt out of his contract and assume free agency after getting $77 million over the next three years but there is also that tendency of every Yankee is in a good situation and Stanton will stay here in a market that is made for him.
They are saying Judge’s Chambers in right and now it is Stanton, or Stanton Island in left for the New York Yankees. What matters more is GM Brian Cashman pulled it off again and the Yankees struck again after hitting a club record 241 home runs this past season.
Then again, the Yankees always get their man even if pitching wins ballgames.
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