Stanton’s Status Uncertain Ahead of Weekend

Boston – The situation regarding Giancarlo Stanton remains in limbo.

It looks less likely that he will join the Yankees for their weekend matchup against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Instead, on Friday, he was spotted at Yankee Stadium.

Although he might still travel to Boston for the series finale on Sunday, he is scheduled to play another rehab game with Double A on Saturday.

Manager Aaron Boone, while not expecting Stanton to play this weekend, admitted, “But, you know, strange things can happen.”

Stanton has been sidelined for the first two and a half months of the season due to elbow tendonitis—something he has dealt with in the past. He mentioned needing to manage it upon his return.

It seems he’s managing the pain well enough, as Boone stated that Stanton has “checked the box” concerning his running progression and the swings he’s been taking in recent weeks.

“My biggest voice is probably the big G right now,” Boone remarked, referring to Stanton.

Boone expressed satisfaction with Stanton’s recent performance in a Double A game, where he went 1-for-3 with a walk and three strikeouts. Despite the limited results, Boone focused more on how Stanton was responding to the pitches.

He noted, “What’s the quality of the pitch? Is he in a solid position? I want to see good movements.” According to Boone, some of Stanton’s at-bats show he’s recognizing pitches well and appears strong during his swings.

However, just how close he is to a return remains unclear, as the Yankees have been vague about his overall timeline.

As things stand, it seems like it’s just a matter of time. Stanton will likely know when he feels ready, but it hasn’t happened yet.

The Yankees are exercising patience with Stanton, which is made easier by the team’s successful performance without him. Yet they are eager for his return.

“I can’t wait,” said Aaron Judge recently. “No one is more eager than us to have him back… He’s a crucial part of the team and a great leader, especially for the younger players.”

When Stanton does come back, the Yankees will face a dilemma regarding playing time. At 35, he isn’t expected to play every day initially as he reintegrates into the team’s routine.

This could lead to daily decisions regarding which player—like Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, Jackson Dominguez, Cody Bellinger, or Paul Goldschmidt—might have to sit out, as it’s likely two of them will need to be rotated out of the lineup when everyone is healthy.

“I talked to Big G about this scenario a month ago,” Boone said. “But everyone understands… I believe we’ll get a good buy-in from our guys. Winning is what matters, especially at this stage of their careers.”