The New York Yankees are in a tailspin. They’ve lost nine of their last ten games heading into the All-Star break. And the injury news keeps getting worse.
Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t played since April 24 because of a lingering calf issue. He was supposed to be getting close. Instead, he’s taken a step back. A real step back.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported Monday that Stanton stayed in New York while the team traveled. He still hasn’t resumed running after his recent setback. Manager Aaron Boone said the team is just listening to the body at this point.
That’s not what you want to hear about a 36-year-old slugger with a history of lower-body problems.
Boone did say he expects Stanton to return sometime during the 2026 season. But that’s about as specific as he got. And given how this has played out so far, nobody should be holding their breath.
Stanton isn’t the star he was in Miami or during that 2017 MVP season. But he’s still been useful when he’s on the field. The Yankees could use that right now. They’re 49-40, sitting four games behind the Rays in the AL East. They’re not exactly buried, but they’re not exactly thriving either.
A lineup that’s running on fumes
Aaron Judge is still out with that ribcage issue. He’s been gone for a while now. Max Fried is dealing with an elbow problem, though he seems closer to returning. The rotation is hanging on. The lineup is inconsistent. And now Stanton’s rehab has stalled out completely.
The trade deadline is less than a month away. The front office has to decide whether this team needs a jolt or a full reset. The easy answer is probably something in the middle. But it’s hard to make that call when you don’t know if your biggest power bat is coming back or not.
Stanton’s absence has been a quiet killer. The Yankees’ offense hasn’t been the same without his presence in the middle of the order. Other guys have to step up. So far, not enough have.
New York starts a big series against the Rays on Monday night on the road. A chance to gain ground. Or watch Tampa pull further ahead. The next few weeks will tell us a lot about where this team is actually headed.
And whether Stanton can contribute to that at all remains a real question mark.
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