Yankees Facing Giancarlo Stanton Decision After Roster News on Friday

"Today, OF Austin Slater commences a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre," the team announced.

New York acquired Slater (hamstring) from the White Sox at the trade deadline, and he then played just three games before getting hurt. The 32-year-old is slashing .223/.284/.400 with five homers and 12 RBI over 54 total contests.

Will Yankees Sit Giancarlo Stanton?

Slater, a fellow outfielder, won't start full-time when he returns. However, the six-foot-one-inch, 205-pounder will be New York's extra position player when rosters expand in September, via The New York Post's Greg Joyce.

Slater will add to a crowded outfield that includes Stanton, Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, and Jasson Dominguez. Generational superstar Aaron Judge is usually the right fielder, but he's taken Stanton's designated hitter spot since August 5 as he rehabs his elbow injury. Meanwhile, the latter player has been a part-time right fielder since then after not previously playing the field since 2023.

Slater could sub in for Stanton some games in right field to keep him fresh for the playoffs, but then the Yankees would sacrifice an elite bat. They entered Friday a half-game behind the Boston Red Sox for second place in the AL East and four games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first, so it would be risky to sit the slugger for too long.

On the bright side, manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday that he believes Judge will return to right field at some point this season, via MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. That would allow Stanton to go back to designated hitter, thus eliminating the need for Slater to take his playing time.

New York will play two more games in Chicago after Friday before continuing its road trip against the Houston Astros.