The Yankees are staring down a potentially disastrous start to their season as injury concerns mount in Tampa.
Giancarlo Stanton finally met with reporters Saturday morning after returning from New York where he received treatment for what he’s now describing as “severe” tendon issues in both elbows. The slugger has already received two PRP injections over the past two weeks and still hasn’t pinpointed when he’ll resume baseball activities.
Most concerning? Stanton acknowledged that if surgery becomes necessary, it would end his 2024 season.
“I made some bat adjustments last season,” Stanton told reporters, attributing his current elbow pain to those changes.
This couldn’t come at a worse time for the Yankees. They’re already anxiously awaiting MRI results on ace Gerrit Cole’s pitching elbow, and now their biggest power threat behind Aaron Judge might be sidelined for an extended period — or worse.
The 35-year-old Stanton’s potential absence creates a massive protection problem for Judge in the lineup. After losing Juan Soto to the Mets this offseason, the Yankees tried addressing their offensive needs by adding Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt. But both newcomers are looking to bounce back from down years, and neither provides the intimidation factor Stanton brings when healthy.
If Stanton misses significant time, we might be looking at a repeat of 2022 when pitchers could work around Judge without fear of consequences. That’s a troubling scenario for a team with championship aspirations.
The timing couldn’t be more frustrating for the reigning American League champions. They haven’t even broken camp yet, and their season outlook is already shifting dramatically based on medical reports rather than on-field performance.
What happens next with Stanton will significantly impact how the Yankees approach the early part of their season. Surgery would force them to explore alternative lineup configurations or even potential trades to bolster their offense around Judge.
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