Giancarlo Stanton has been taking the blame for the Yankees lackluster offseason. This is why this analysis is false.
If you happen to frequent twitter these days, you might have noticed that Yankees fans are having a difficult time processing the recent signing of DJ LeMahieu. It is undeniable that the signing improves an already good team, and it makes a high powered offense more dynamic by adding an element the Yankees lack: contact ability.
There is, however, one take that continues to be floated around, and Joe Giglio of NJ.com is the latest to spread the misguided analysis to the masses.
On Sunday, Giglio tweeted the following:
The Yankees effectively chose taking on Giancarlo Stanton's contract rather than seriously going after Manny Machado or Bryce Harper.
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) January 11, 2019
For a smart team, that's incredibly dumb.
This is why the analysis is false and 100% incorrect.
One, for the past two seasons now, Hal Steinbrenner has made it clear that the main goal of the Yankees organization – aside from winning it all – is to get under the luxury tax threshold. Yankees fans interpreted this to mean that the organization wanted to accomplish this goal in order to be competitive this offseason.
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There has been no indication that that isn’t still the case.
More importantly, acquiring Giancarlo Stanton last offseason by no means impacted the Yankees ability to accomplish this goal. In fact, the Yankees did stay under the luxury tax threshold in 2018, accomplishing their goal while at the same time obtaining the 2017 NL NVP.
That’s a win-win, if you ask me.
Secondly, much of the Yankees success in 2018 is due in part to Stanton’s performance.
The Yankees saw diminished performances from many of their players and experienced an unprecedented amount of injuries.
- Gary Sanchez hit just .186 with a .291 OBP and .697 SLG.
- Greg Bird, who has spent more time on the DL than on the field since being called up in 2015, disappointed by hitting below the Mendoza Line for a 2nd straight season.
- Aroldis Chapman spent close to a month on the DL with left knee tendinitis.
- Aaron Judge also spent close to two months on the DL with a right wrist fracture
I think you get the point.
Some of you might reference Stanton’s postseason performance (.222 AVG, OBP, and SLG), but the fact of the matter is that the entire Yankee offense struggled this postseason.
The 2017 Postseason hero, Didi Gregorious, hit had a .214 AVG and OBP with a .286 SLG in the ALDS against the Red Sox. Yankee veteran Brett Gardner went 0-8 in the ALDS, while rookie of the year runner-up Miguel Andujar went 1-9.
The fact of the matter is, Giancarlo Stanton in no way, shape or form negatively impacted the Yankees ability to go out and be aggressive this offseason. If the Yankees don’t sign Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, it is merely a decision made by Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman.