Giancarlo Stanton was rehabbing from a calf strain this year when he injured his other calf, putting his return this season in doubt.
When healthy, Stanton is an elite hitter, but it's gotten to the point where the Yankees can no longer rely on him to stay healthy. They are paying him to take up a roster spot, essentially, and then let them down. According to The Athletic's Chris Kirschner, the $25 million it would cost the Yankees to move on from Stanton is "within the range that owner Hal Steinbrenner has been willing to absorb to move on from a player."
It's not about the money with Stanton; it's more about the fact that the Yankees cannot count on him to be a key part of their offense. They want a bat like his in the lineup, and with Stanton on the roster, they cannot add one. Moving on from him opens up the designated hitter spot and allows them to get a new running mate for Aaron Judge.
Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer predicted the Yankees would let Stanton go in the offseason and replace his production by trading for Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman.
"He's not the most interesting option for the Yankees, but Goodman is the right guy for them," wrote Rymer on Tuesday. "Unless they want to trust in Austin Wells' recent surge to a .571 OPS, upgrading at catcher needs to be a priority. There will also be more time to reason with the Colorado Rockies, who were reportedly pushing for No. 1 prospects in Goodman talks before the deadline."
Goodman has 66 homers in the last two seasons, and while Yankee Stadium is not Coors Field, he could still put up monster numbers. It would also finally give the Yankees a much-needed upgrade at catcher.