Could Giancarlo Stanton be the Yankees' No. 7 hitter in 2024?
TAMPA, Fla. – Giancarlo Stanton has naturally been a middle-of-the-order fixture, with 951 career starts batting either cleanup or at No. 3.
Even last season, his least productive offensive year in the majors, the veteran slugger never batted below the No. 5 spot as a starter.
Could that change in 2024?
Manager Aaron Boone hasn’t given out any definitive lineup configurations for 2024, though he seems to prefer DJ LeMahieu, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge atop the order, in that order.
Continuing the right-left scheme in this deeper Yankees lineup than 2023, Anthony Rizzo could bat cleanup, Gleyber Torres could bat fifth and lefty-hitting newcomer Alex Verdugo could bat sixth.
That leaves Stanton in the No. 7 spot, ahead of the Jose Trevino-Austin Wells catching combo and shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The outfield plan for Giancarlo Stanton
A slimmer Stanton is set to arrive Monday as Yankees position players report to camp, with the weight loss designed to avoid the lower body injuries that have plagued his pinstriped career.
“(He’s) worked hard’’ this winter, said GM Brian Cashman, who feels Stanton remains “a feared’’ AL hitter.
“With health comes good performances. He’s certainly worked his tail off this winter, with all the information I’ve gotten back from our staff, and he’s committed to find a way to be the impactful player that we know he can be.’’
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Might that impact be made in the bottom third of the batting order this season?
While there’s no evidence this is in the Yankees’ plans to start 2024, there is a plan for Stanton to be in the outfield mix this year.
Based on their communication since the end of last season, Boone and Stanton are in agreement that outfield play is “an option’’ for Stanton, who is the regular designated hitter.
Judge will need some DH days built in, giving him a break from center field, and Soto will be earmarked for DH days as well.
“If (Stanton) is out there once or twice a week, depending on how healthy across the board we are, we’l let that play out,’’ said Boone. “I do feel he’ll be in a position (to play defensively) and we’ll prepare like that in the spring.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Could Giancarlo Stanton be the Yankees' No. 7 hitter this year?
