Giancarlo Stanton Being Healthy Could Change All of Yankees Plans Next Year

With all of the health issues New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has dealt with over much of the past five-plus years, there were some concerns that the Yankees were going to move on from him this offseason. While Stanton has done a lot of good for the Yankees over the past couple of years now, mainly in the postseason, the fact that he hasn't been able to stay healthy has certainly led to some question marks about what his future in Major League Baseball even looks like. 

The Yankees have decided some difficult things in the past, but this would be one of the more challenging ones they've had to make. Not only is Stanton an elite hitter who can still leave the yard at any given moment, but he seems very well-liked in the clubhouse. 

While the Yankees don't have to make a decision on him right now, it sounds like they already have one. 

According to the latest report, the Yankees are going to keep Stanton on the roster for next season, at least heading into spring training. The follow-up question now, however, is how this impacts the remainder of the roster. While it seems like Stanton could fill in that DH role, depending on whether he's healthy next year, that could have an impact on a guy like Ben Rice. 

However, I do believe there's a scenario in which this could work out for the Yankees.

“Committing to bringing Stanton to spring training is one thing, but it gets interesting after that. There’s no incentive for the Yankees to move on from Stanton right now. It makes sense for them to evaluate all options during spring training and see if everyone stays healthy. But if the roster remains healthy, how does everyone fit?

“Let’s say Stanton makes the Opening Day roster. He’s not playing the field, so it would lock him in as the designated hitter. That would mean Ben Rice, who spent most of the 2026 season at DH, would have to play first base. Among all first basemen last season, Rice’s minus-8 Defensive Runs Saved in 474 2/3 innings tied for the second-worst, behind only Josh Naylor at minus-9 DRS. With Rice at first, that would leave Luis García Jr. as a bench option or a possibility at second base,” Chris Kirschner wrote.

With the expectation that Jazz Chisholm Jr. is going to walk in MLB free agency, the Yankees have a real opportunity to find a difference-maker at second base, specifically somebody like Brandon Lowe.

However, New York might not have to do that. The Yankees could allow somebody like Ben Rice to play at first base every day and move Luis Garcia Jr. to second. 

Garcia has experience playing second base, and after what he did offensively in the Bronx last year, there's absolutely no debate that he needs to be in the lineup every single day. 

If the Yankees can get a healthy Stanton and work out the defensive alignments, they should find themselves in a really good position.