The New York Yankees will kick off the season without Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Stanton received PRP injections in both elbows last week while in New York for personal matters, and he will start the season on the injured list. Heyman reported, “Stanton received a PRP injection in both elbows last week while in New York for personal reasons.
He remained in New York on Saturday continuing his treatment, but is expected to return to camp this week, a team spokesman said.” While the Yankees acknowledge that Stanton will need to manage elbow pain throughout the year, they are focusing on getting him ready for baseball activities as soon as possible.
Stanton’s absence leaves a significant void in the Yankees’ lineup. The slugger hit 27 home runs during the regular season and added another seven in the postseason. With limited free-agent options remaining, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter speculated that the Yankees could turn to New York Mets slugger J.D. Martinez.
- J.D. Martinez.
On Thursday, Heyman reported that there had been “some contact” between Martinez and the Yankees. Martinez, who hit 16 home runs in 120 games last season, had a delayed start to the year due to injuries, debuting on April 26. Despite that, he had been named an All-Star in five of the previous six seasons. Over the past four years, Martinez has racked up 93 home runs and 333 RBIs.
Martinez could be an ideal short-term replacement for Stanton as he recovers. If he performs well, Martinez could also serve as a potential partner with Stanton to split the DH duties and manage his workload over the course of the season.
One of Martinez’s biggest strengths is his ability to hit left-handed pitchers. Last season, he posted a solid .263/.370/.466 slash line against southpaws, making him a valuable addition to the Yankees lineup.
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