Giancarlo Stanton is one of the biggest names on the Yankees roster, but it’s imperative that Brian Cashman trade him away as soon as possible.
Yankees officials don’t know when their 2020 season can officially get underway, but that won’t stop them from debating a number of internal topics in the meantime. One of those topics should be the franchise’s urgent need to trade Giancarlo Stanton as soon as possible.
Dealing away such a popular player may not win GM Brian Cashman much admiration in the Bronx, but it’s the right thing to do to maximize the Yankees’ chances of winning more World Series titles in the next decade. Without delay, here are the top five reasons the Yankees should be looking to deal the 30-year-old slugger as soon as possible.
5. He might block prospects
The Yankees aren’t blessed with a corner outfield prospect ready to challenge Stanton for playing time immediately, but that could change in the near future. Two of the team’s top seven prospects are outfielders that could potentially eat away at Stanton’s playing time.
In fairness, the team’s top minor league prospect, Jasson Dominguez is still several seasons away from plying his trade in the big leagues. It’s the organization’s No. 7 ranked prospect, Estevan Florial, who is more prepared to make his debut in the next year or two.
He may not ultimately have the pop to play a corner outfield spot, but he could also be a plus defender in center. If that happens, someone like Aaron Hicks would move to a corner outfield spot to make room. It’s easy to see how the organization can run out of outfield room very quickly when you consider the reality that Aaron Judge is entrenched as the starter in right field.
Stanton isn’t feeling heat from prospects right now, but it’s easy to envision a scenario where he will soon. Dealing him ahead of that crunch would be proactive personnel management by Cashman.