The New York Yankees finally welcomed back one of the best power hitters in Major League Baseball in Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton, who returned for the Yankees on Monday night, is expected to have an immediate impact in the lineup.Â
When healthy, he’s one of the better power hitters in the league and has been throughout his entire career. Last season, Stanton hit 27 home runs and drove in 73, despite playing in just 114 games.Â
Stanton’s Return Complicates the Lineup
But for the New York Yankees, there are many decisions they have to make with their lineup. After releasing their lineup without Paul Goldschmidt in it last night, the Yankees went with Stanton at the DH spot and Ben Rice at first base. With a right-handed starter on the mound, it made some sense.
However, according to CBS Sports, this could be a sign of what’s to come. They reported that the Yankees haven’t indicated any injury to Goldschmidt and that the Yankees could be working a platoon situation.Â
âThe Yankees haven’t indicated that Goldschmidt is dealing with a physical issue, but the 37-year-old will hit the bench for the second day in a row against a right-handed starting pitcher (Jose Soriano). Manager Aaron Boone will likely elaborate further on the lineup when he speaks to the media Monday, but Chris Kirschner of The Athletic speculates that the return of Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) from the 60-day injured list could result in the Yankees opting for a quasi-platoon at first base,â they wrote.Â
âWith Stanton expected to get the majority of the at-bats at designated hitter moving forward, the right-handed-hitting Goldschmidt could give way at first base more frequently to the left-handed-hitting Ben Rice when the Yankees face righties. Goldschmidt owns a 91 wRC+ versus righties for the season, while Rice has posted a 132 wRC+ in those matchups,â they wrote.
Shuffling the Current Infield
There were questions about what the New York Yankees would do with Rice and Stanton in the lineup. This could be a sign of what’s to come, as the Yankees could allow Goldschmidt to play first base when there’s a lefty on the mound, and Rice to play first when a right-hander is throwing.Â
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic outlined the potential scenarios the Yankees could pursue.Â
âAnother way to get Rice in the lineup is to have him platoon at first base with Paul Goldschmidt. This could be the Yankeesâ best option. Rice has a 132 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers this season, whereas Goldschmidt only has a 91 wRC+.Â
âAgainst left-handed pitchers, Goldschmidt has a 242 wRC+ on the season, while Rice has a 71 wRC+ versus southpaws. Only Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith are crushing lefties more than Goldschmidt across MLB. If the Yankees want to maximize their lineupâs production, itâs clear what they should do at first base,â he wrote.
Regardless of what the New York Yankees decide to do over the next few months, they have to make the right decisions. Stanton needs to be in the lineup, but so do Goldsmith and Rice. If that means one of them has to learn a new position, that’s what has to happen.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Yankees Seemingly Makes Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice Decision appeared first on Heavy Sports.