Jose Fernandez told Giancarlo Stanton they'd be Yankees teammates someday
On Sunday night, Giancarlo Stanton made his first appearance in New York as a member of the New York Yankees. He was accepting the MVP award at the 95th annual Baseball Writers Association of America dinner, and was sitting right next to Aaron Judge. The two of them together for the first time in public had to give Yankees fans everywhere a thrill.
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Stanton is living his exciting non-Miami future, though it seemed like his mind was still on Miami — or on one of his former teammates. When he accepted his MVP award and said a few words, he gave the audience an anecdote about Jose Fernandez, the talented Miami Marlins pitcher who died in a boating accident in September 2016.
Giancarlo Stanton says that at the 2016 ASG, Jose Fernandez predicted Stanton would hit 60 HR and win NL MVP in 2017. Fernandez also said that if things didn’t work out in Miami, they’d be teammates on the Yankees someday.
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) January 29, 2018
That’s an impressive prediction, and it was almost right on — Stanton came up one short in 2017, hitting 59 home runs. Fernandez didn’t get to see Stanton’s stunning season, but he clearly knew how talented Stanton was, and that he was capable of of having such a massive season.
But there’s one more part of that tweet that’s probably raising some eyebrows. The part where Fernandez told Stanton that they’d be Yankees teammates someday. Here’s a little more about that.
He also said Jose Fernandez said, "if it doesn't work out (in Miami), I'm signing with the Yankees — and I'm bringing you with me."
— Joe (@JoeRiveraSN) January 29, 2018
They weren’t just going to be Yankees teammates by happenstance. Fernandez planned to sign with the Yankees as a free agent, and he wanted Stanton to come with him. Yankees fans are already hyperventilating that Stanton and Aaron Judge are going to be teammates, and even though it’s sad (and a little bittersweet) to imagine Jose Fernandez joining that trio, it’s still an incredible thing to think about.
Stanton wrapped up his acceptance speech with a tribute to his departed teammate.
Stanton concluded his speech by putting his hand on his heart and says he's bringing some of Jose with him to New York.
— Joe (@JoeRiveraSN) January 29, 2018
Aw. That’s so sweet. Stanton is clearly ready to live his exciting future in New York, but Miami — and Jose Fernandez — will always be part of him.
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Liz Roscher is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on twitter! Follow @lizroscher
