ESPN news: Yankees’ $98 Million Outfielder a Womplete Waste of Resources…….read more.
The Yankees will need every ounce of offensive firepower at their disposal to make it deep into the postseason, and veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton will have to step up his game. This season, the 34-year-old has had a few successful runs, but overall, his play has been inconsistent.
Stanton’s Challenges and the Need for an Offense by the Yankees
With a $10 million buyout option until 2028, Stanton’s contract with the Yankees puts him in a difficult situation as younger players like Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones are expected to establish themselves as major league regulars. The Yankees must decide whether to sit Stanton or try to make use of his skills in spite of his limitations given his high pay.
With 13 home runs and 29 RBIs, Stanton’s current stats include a batting average of.225, an on-base percentage of.275, and a slugging percentage of.471. It is anticipated that he will hit his greatest number of home runs for the season since 2017.
Performance Low Points and Possible Changes
Stanton, though, hasn’t played well in the last 15 days, batting just.170 with four home runs and an.688 OPS. He hasn’t contributed much offensively other than the occasional home run, and his strikeout percentage has increased—it’s the highest since a brief 2019 season—along with a discernible loss in plate discipline.
Stanton continues to have impressive power metrics in spite of these difficulties, with a 52% hard-hit rate, an 18.1% barrel rate, and an average exit velocity of 92.9. These numbers demonstrate that even though he still possesses a lot of power, when he isn’t hitting home runs, his overall usefulness in the lineup declines.
The Yankees recently tried to improve their hitting order by shifting Stanton to cleanup and Alex Verdugo back to the fifth place. However, this move did not work well on Thursday as Stanton struck out four times without getting to base.
The Yankees will need to think about how to effectively use Stanton in the lineup going forward, especially with Anthony Rizzo’s comeback approaching. Given Verdugo’s play, Stanton might not need to remain in the cleanup position, but as the trade deadline draws near, the Yankees might try to add another potent hitter to strengthen their lineup. Their offensive plan would have more backing and flexibility as a result of this maneuver.
