Giancarlo Stanton Just Made a $218 Million Power Move With the Yankees
The New York Yankees have never been an organization to shy away from spending money to acquire premier talent. The Yankees proved that with the trade to land star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton a few years ago. Stanton has now quickly made a decision on his long-term future in New York.
Giancarlo Stanton’s tenure in New York
The New York Yankees made the power move in December 2017 to acquire star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to bolster their batting order.
Stanton had already established himself as one of the game’s most feared power hitters coming off a career-best campaign that earned him the NL MVP award. He led the majors with a career-high 59 home runs while posting 132 RBI, which created a significant buzz around the transaction.
However, Stanton’s first three years in New York haven’t been anywhere near what was hoped. He struggled to find consistency in his first campaign but managed to hit 38 home runs and drive in 100 RBI. Since then, the injury bug has plagued him as he played only 18 games in 2019 and appeared in 23 of the 60 regular-season games in the shortened 2020 campaign.
Stanton did have a strong showing in this past postseason as he hit .307 with six home runs and 13 RBI and scored seven runs in seven games played. His production saw him join Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Lou Gehrig in team history to hit a home run in four consecutive playoff games.
The 2020 season may not have ended in the manner that Stanton and the Yankees envisioned, but the star outfielder has quickly decided on his future with the organization.
Giancarlo Stanton opts into the remaining $218 million of his deal
Giancarlo Stanton is currently playing under his massive 13-year, $325 million deal that he previously inked with the Miami Marlins.
According to the Associated Press, Stanton has unsurprisingly elected to decline his opt-out for the final seven years of his contract that will pay him through the 2027 season.
The 30-year-old is locked into one of the largest deals in sports history that will pay him at least $25 million annually. Stanton’s contract also includes a $25 million option for the 2028 season when he’s 38 years old.
He still has $218 million remaining on his deal with the Marlins agreeing in the original trade to send $30 million to the Yankees to help offset what’s left. The money will be broken down into $5 million payments on July 1 and Oct. 1 in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Miami’s contributions to the contract help manage the financial blow that comes with the territory.
Stanton’s decision now allows the Yankees to quickly shift their gears toward the upcoming offseason, where tough roster decisions lie before them.
Yankees’ other roster decisions ahead
The Yankees showed flashes of potential in the 2020 season despite the injury bug plaguing their roster.
New York now faces some crucial roster decisions in the offseason with notable players possibly becoming free agents. General manager Brian Cashman has a Tuesday deadline to extend an $18.9 million qualifying offer for the 2021 season on second baseman DJ LeMahieu.
Meanwhile, players such as pitchers Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, James Paxton, and outfielder Brett Gardner are all scheduled to become free agents. The Yankees’ decisions with that group will provide a clearer picture of how they plan to attack the rest of the offseason.
New York needs more stability within their starting rotation behind Gerrit Cole. The front office may be aggressive in adding another front-end starter to the pitching staff, such as Trevor Bauer, who will draw much interest elsewhere in the open market.
Regardless of the situation, the Yankees will be in the mix to make some notable moves.
