Yankees GM has a pessimistic outlook for Giancarlo Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton's time with the New York Yankees hasn't been defined by towering home runs and World Series championships as general manager Brian Cashman hoped when trading for him in 2017.
Instead, it's been defined mostly by injuries, something Cashman told Greg Phillips of "New York Daily News," on Monday he doesn't expect to go away.
"We try to limit the time he's down," Cashman said. "But I’m not gonna tell you he’s gonna play every game next year because he’s not.
"He’s going to wind up getting hurt again more likely than not because it seems to be part of his game. But I know that when he’s right and healthy — other than this past year — the guy’s a great hitter and has been for a long time."
Cashman is likely correct. Since joining the Yankees, the 34-year-old Stanton has played more than 140 games only twice (most recently in 2021) with 61 missed games in 2023.
But, right or wrong, Cashman's comments are unlikely to get him back in the good graces of a fan base that's had just about enough of him.
Despite Stanton's struggles to stay on the field as a Bronx Bomber, most Yankee fans respect Stanton for the way he's handled the adversity and delivered in the postseason.
When you contrast the accountability Stanton takes in the media to Cashman calling his team "pretty f---ing good" after the Yankees posted their lowest win total since 1995, it's easy to understand why fans are in the Bronx are getting restless.
While Stanton certainly struggled when healthy enough to play in 2023, the bigger problem in recent years for Cashman and the Yankees has been talent evaluation.
Whether it has been bringing in players he shouldn't have like Sonny Gray, Joey Gallo and Josh Donaldson while moving on from home-grown SP Jordan Montgomery and beloved utility man Gio Urshela; or declining to go after high-profile free agents like Bryce Harper or Juan Soto, Cashman can seemingly do no right.
Since the Yankees' surprise run to the ALCS in 2017, Cashman has had a single task: build a roster to beat the Astros. Six years later they haven't gotten any closer to the World Series, and were swept by the Houston in the 2022 ALCS before missing the playoffs at 82-80 in 2023.
Cashman has survived the 14-year World Series drought thanks to the five championships he's already won; but his seat should be as hot as they come.
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