World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees - Game 5World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees – Game 5 / Sarah Stier/GettyImages

There is no question about it: Giancarlo Stanton officially became a postseason legend for the New York Yankees after his 2024 run concluded. He has proven enough since arriving in the Bronx to be considered an October difference-maker, and has been the constant catalyst for the offense in the playoffs (even though the Yanks haven’t captured a World Series since 2009).

But that’s possibly blinded Yankees fans from the Stanton Reality: he is no longer a suitable regular season player for this team, and he clogs up the DH role to further limit the roster flexibility. Don’t believe us? Since 2018, he’s accrued a total of 9 WAR and has played in more than 114 games just twice. Is that what you want from a $25 million per year player?

Stanton as a postseason luxury for the most valuable team in baseball is on brand and honestly kind of a necessity … but from there the fractures begin. With or without Juan Soto in the picture, Stanton’s presence remains onerous until October.

And if Soto is out of the picture? The Yankees really can’t afford to have a part-time Stanton delivering marginal production outside of the home run department while limiting the Yankees’ versatility. This was not a playoff team in 2023 when Aaron Judge missed time with an injury. This was barely a playoff team in 2020 and 2021 (when Stanton delivered his only other above-average campaign in New York). Stanton’s first half of 2022 propelled the Yankees to a comfy cushion, but his disappearing act/injury in the second half coincided with the team’s collapse.

Yankees must figure out how to manage Regular Season Giancarlo Stanton in 2025

This is not a criticism of Stanton whatsoever. He’s immune to future criticism because of his ability to constantly deliver in big moments, which culminated in his ALCS MVP trophy in 2024. He has brought unique value to the organization despite the frustration with his injuries and declining play from his prime years with the Marlins. Still, though, his performance from April-September is problematic almost every single season, and it’s possible that is being ignored right now because of the highs of his most recent October.

The dilemma remains the same: as long as Stanton is getting paid that much, the Yankees will not make the necessary financial overtures to fix the problem. If they haven’t done so since 2019, they won’t until he’s officially off the team.

What solutions remain? Hoping Stanton is healthy and dominant for 2025? Trading him at his highest value since 2021? Acquiring enough pieces this offseason to absorb the inevitable downturn in his production?

It’s a topic that warrants a much larger discussion, because the Yankees cannot keep hoping for the best as Stanton enters his age-35 season with his on-base and slugging percentages on the decline. The fans aren’t in charge, though, so we’ll be at the mercy of Cashman’s problem solving, hoping he doesn’t get fooled by the short burst of superstar output.