Giancarlo Stanton vows to change his Yankees narrative in 2024

TAMPA, Fla. – A slimmer Giancarlo Stanton arrived Monday morning at Yankees camp, leaned on a baseball bat and viewed the task ahead.

Coming off last season’s rough performance, nothing is a given.

“If you don’t produce, there’s going to be adjustments and ways to… make the lineup as optimal as possible,’’ said Stanton. “So, it’s my job to do that.’’

Entering his seventh season in pinstripes, Stanton is well-versed in the Bronx Rules when seasons go south, and the strikeouts pile up.

“I don’t listen to noise. I understand facts,’’ said Stanton, whose OPS slipped to .695 last year in 101 games, with time spent on the injured list due to a strained hamstring.

“I’m here to produce… and help us win a championship. That hasn’t happened and it needs to.’’

Changes coming in 2024 for Giancarlo Stanton

Vowing that personal changes would be coming as he exited the 2023 season, a noticeably lighter Stanton reported Monday with the Yankees’ position players.

“Be a baseball player again... I just wanted to be more mobile,’’ the slugger said of his trimmer physique, designed to prevent the lower-body injuries that have plagued his Yankees career.

Stanton, 34, said it was essentially a mutual idea, with the club, for him to report lighter this year, but he was short on the specifics on his training (there was more running involved) and did not say how much weight he lost.

“It’s been the first fully healthy offseason in a long time,’’ said Stanton, a world traveler who said he took no time off for vacation, keeping his focus in the gym.

As far as his swing goes, “there will be some changes,’’ said Stanton, who did not elaborate.

Staying on the field is priority No. 1

Stanton wasn’t keen on revisiting the 2023 season, and who could blame him?

“It’s not ideal in any form,’’ so “flushing that down the toilet wasn’t hard at all,’’ Stanton said of moving on. “It’s a new year and after this, I’m not really talking about last year too much.’’

But the old chestnut – avoiding the IL – remains topic No. 1.

“Yeah, I’ve got to stay on the field,’’ said Stanton. “The start, stopping is not ideal. I need to play and not be on the sidelines.’’

Yes, Stanton sees himself contributing as an outfielder this season, but he’s not speculating about how many starts at the corner spots as opposed to designated hitter.

“Whenever I’m needed, I’d like to be out there,’’ said Stanton, whose aim is to “be productive’’ and make “a positive impact to help us win.’’

With Aaron Judge and Juan Soto expected slot in occasionally at DH, “I think we’ll have a good rotation at DH,’’ said Stanton. “I look forward to playing the outfield.’’

As to the addition of Soto to the lineup, “I think it’s incredible. It’s going to be fun to watch, seeing him and Judge tear apart the league.’’

Clearing the air with Brian Cashman

Stanton says he’s OK with Brian Cashman, following the general manager’s November comments about being “injury prone’’ and that “he’s going to wind up getting hurt again, more likely than not, because it seems to be part of his game.’’

“He knows my reaction to that,’’ Stanton said, and Cashman quickly took measures through Stanton’s agent to clear the air and felt he landed in a good place.

In the same November comments, Cashman noted the need to get Stanton “up and running again,’’ because “when he’s right and healthy… the guy’s a great hitter and has been for a long time.’’

Last week, Cashman noted that Stanton had “certainly worked his tail off this winter’’ and “he’s committed to find a way to be the impactful player that we know he can be.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Giancarlo Stanton vows to change his NY Yankees narrative in 2024