Giancarlo Stanton (34, New York Yankees), the ‘glass body’ who said there was nothing to worry about as long as it didn’t hurt. Now I can’t even be healthy. Struggling with a batting average of .100, he became a huge disaster and trouble for the Yankees. The reputation of a hitter with an annual salary of $32 million (approximately 42.5 billion won) and a total of 402 home runs is beyond words. 온라인바카라
Stanton appeared as designated hitter No. 4 in the home game against the Toronto Blue Jays on the 20th (Korean time), but was silent with no hits in four at-bats. He had the worst batting performance, recording two strikeouts and two double plays each, and the Yankees lost 1-6.
In the first inning, with one out and a chance on second base, he stared at Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi’s three breaking balls and struck out after three pitches. Even in the 4th inning as the leadoff hitter, he struck out due to an awkward swing on Kikuchi’s low curve on the 4th pitch.
In the 6th inning, with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd base, Toronto’s relief had already pulled Garcia’s slider on the 5th pitch and a grounder to the shortstop resulted in a 6-4-3 double play. He hit a deep grounder in the 3rd and was able to live well at first base. I sprinted as fast as I could, but Stanton was very, very slow. Yankees home fans booed.
Stanton decorated the last moment as well. It ended with a double play in the 9th inning with one out and runners on first base. On Nate Pearson’s third pitch, he took a missed swing at a ball that fell low on the outside, and there was a big difference between the ball and the bat. He took a ridiculous swing and ended up pulling a low outside slider on the 4th pitch and hitting a ground ball to 3rd base, and the game ended in a 5-4-3 double play.
As of today, Stanton has a batting average of .109 (150 hits in 352 at-bats) in 96 games this season, with 24 home runs, 58 RBIs, 40 walks, 114 strikeouts, an on-base percentage of .276, a slugging percentage of .426, and an OPS of .702. Lowest batting average among 225 batters with more than 350 plate appearances. A batting average of .100 is the first in his career, and his OPS is also the lowest in his career.
Stanton, who returned in early June after being placed on the injured list due to left hamstring pain in mid-April, has been playing without a break for four months, but his performance continues to decline. He has enough power to hit over 20 home runs, but his accuracy and production are low. He also plays outfield defense, but his range is too narrow as he cannot run at full speed, possibly due to a hamstring injury. He is not helpful in karate.
After the game, the New York media ‘NJ.com’ argued that Stanton, a highly paid player, should be dismissed under the title, ‘How the Yankees are discarding Stanton, a hitter with a batting average of .109 who is so vulnerable to injury that he plays like a grandmother.’ The media said, ‘Stanton has hit 400 home runs in his career, but he has become a problem that the Yankees need to solve in the offseason. Considering the money he gets paid, he shouldn’t be batting under .200 in 100 games or so. He’s incredibly slow at running. He went 2-for-35 with only 16 strikeouts in his last 10 games. He criticized him loudly, saying, “He is absolutely pathetic.”
He continued, ‘Stanton is becoming a right-handed version of Joey Gallo (Minnesota Twins). But Gallo can catch fly balls in the outfield, and he’s not that slow,’ he said. ‘Stanton turns 34 in November. If the Yankees really want to win, they need to end their relationship with Stanton, regardless of the cost. Sometimes it’s necessary to give Aaron Judge the designated hitter spot. Stanton should be replaced with a left-handed slugger who has better defense and doesn’t run like a turtle. If it’s necessary to let Stanton go, do it. “Now is the time,” he emphasized.
The media suggested an alternative that Stanton should be demoted to a bench member, remove his right to veto the trade, and then send him to a team like the Los Angeles Angels. However, it is questionable whether this is realistically possible. Stanton, whose annual salary amounts to $32 million this year, has $118 million remaining in salary over four years, $32 million in 2024 and 2025, $29 million in 2026, and $25 million in 2027, respectively. The condition is that $10 million each from 2026 to 2027 will be preserved by his former team, the Miami Marlins, but the Yankees must pay the entire amount, which is close to $100 million.
The Yankees, who fell to fourth place in the American League East Division (76 wins, 74 losses) this year and are far from fall baseball, are uncertain about the future of general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone after the season. Team reform is expected, but Stanton is unlikely to be the target. It is not easy to organize because of the remaining contract period and salary. The decline is so clear that it is almost impossible to find a team willing to accept him through a trade. If they fail to revive like this, it will be a catastrophe for the Yankees.