Where does Stanton fit in Yankees' plans for 2027?

No one keeps official statistics in the batting cage, but Giancarlo Stanton likely led the Yankees in at-bats against the Trajekt machine this past season, trying to keep his skills sharp despite a series of calf injuries that kept him off the basepaths.

By October, Stanton was back in his familiar postseason mode, taking numerous rounds of mid-afternoon batting practice on the field. It didn’t translate into game results, limited to two pinch-hitting at-bats during the American League Division Series -- both strikeouts.

Now, as the Yankees look ahead to the 2027 season, they must consider whether they can count on Stanton at all.

“He finished the season healthy,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “I can't tell you how this roster is going to shake out as we enter this winter and assess what's available to us. I certainly hope he becomes a legitimate choice once again on a consistent basis for [manager] Aaron Boone to play with when he tries to put lineups together on a daily basis from April all the way through. But we'll see.”

Stanton will turn 37 in November and is approaching the final year of his 13-year, $325 million megadeal signed with the Marlins in November 2014, set to earn $29 million -- a figure partially offset by Miami, which will pay $10 million.

After elbow injuries limited him to 77 games in 2025, Stanton seemed to have solved that issue early in ’26, gritting his teeth and vowing to play through discomfort. His right calf had other plans, popping as he jogged between bases in Houston on April 24.

The Yankees initially hoped for a short absence, even playing a few games without placing Stanton on the injured list. When they eventually shelved him four days later in Arlington, it marked his seventh IL assignment since 2021.

With the Yankees days away from reactivating Stanton in June, he re-injured the calf while running bases at Yankee Stadium. Stanton then injured his left calf in August, which was believed to be season-ending.

Boone even said at one point that Stanton could have gone home then, crediting Stanton with staying around the team to rehab, just in case he could make it back.

“It obviously was a very tough year for Giancarlo, from the soft-tissue stuff and lower body stuff,” Boone said. “He cares immensely. He does all he can to take care of his body as best he can.”

Cashman said the frustration of Stanton’s repeated injuries “destroyed him.”

“He continues to fight through it, as someone who is wired right should. He is wired right,” Cashman said. “His leadership in there is not in question. His care factor is not in question. It's just keeping him on the field so he can help us in that win column. Obviously that was a huge problem for us, especially in 2026.”

Once seemingly a lock to join the 500 Home Run Club, Stanton’s pursuit is stalled at 456, having batted .256 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games this past season.

That 500-homer figure is meaningful for Stanton, but the Yankees may not have the roster flexibility to see it play out. Cashman characterized the designated-hitter spot as “up for grabs.”

“We’ll see what the roster looks like when we get to [Spring Training in Tampa, Fla.] and go back at it,” Boone said. “But it’s impossible to know exactly what that looks like. Right now, it looks like we have a healthy player. That hopefully is the case when we get to Tampa.”

Injury concerns seem likely to keep Stanton limited to DH duties, a role filled this past season by Ben Rice, who logged 424 plate appearances as a DH.

Rice was moved off first base by the August acquisition of Luis García Jr., and though the Yankees may consider García at second base if Jazz Chisholm Jr. leaves in free agency, the Nationals were unimpressed by Garcia’s defense at that position.

“It’s at least possible that it could be part of the equation,” Boone said.

Aaron Judge’s future could also play a major role in the club’s DH plans. Judge missed 100 of the Yankees’ 166 games (including the postseason) due to injuries, mostly from a fractured right rib he sustained while attempting a diving catch in the outfield.

Though Judge has little interest in becoming a full-time DH, the Yankees understand that preserving his bat is of utmost importance, especially considering how their offense sagged in his absence.

For Stanton, the most likely outcome is that he will remain under contract through the winter and prepare for Spring Training – albeit without any guarantee of playing time.

“Obviously, we know what he's capable of when he is healthy,” Cashman said. “So we look forward to seeing if we can deploy a healthy version of him next year.”