Giancarlo Stanton (Image: Getty)
The Yankees did their best over the weekend to break the internet when news surfaced of Giancarlo Stanton joining the Evil Empire.
Derek Jeter, the new face of the Miami Marlins, as CEO and part owner, pulled the trigger on trading the team’s biggest name to the team he led to five world championships as their captain.
The Yankees will be sending second baseman Starlin Castro and two prospects, believed to be Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers to the Marlins for Stanton.
According to USA Today, the Yankees will be picking up around $260 to $265 million of the $295 million remaining on Stanton’s contract, which runs through 2027.
That’s a lot of coin, the type of coin that most teams run from. But, the Yankees, are not most teams. They’re the measuring stick.
Stanton, 6-foot-6, the reigning National League MVP, is best known for hitting baseballs, a long way. The Yankees already have a 6-foot-7 talent that can also hit the ball just as far, Aaron Judge.
Then there’s Gary Sanchez, the other Baby Bomber. He’s not as tall as Judge and Stanton, but, at 6-foot-2, can also put a baseball into orbit.
Stanton, at 28 years old, is entering the prime of his career. Judge and Sanchez are both 25 years old, their careers are just beginning.
Last season there were 144 home runs hit between Stanton, Judge, and Sanchez. That’s more than the San Francisco Giants hit as a team.
Now throw in 27-year old Didi Gregorius, 25-year old Greg Bird, and the surplus of young talent already in the locker room.
Do you smell that?
The Yankees, one win from reaching the World Series in 2017, smell like a team on the brink of a dynasty. The arrival of Stanton signals a return to the old days for a team which spent the past four seasons focusing on developing their young talent. Now they’re ready to start spending again.
When the Yankees were winning championships in the late 90’s they did it with a home-grown group.
Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera were the foundation for all of that winning. General Manager Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner’s made sure to surround that core with the best the market had to offer, via free agency or trade.
Fast forward to now and the similarities are too much to overlook.
Cashman has held firm to his minor-league prospects, waiting, just waiting for a scenario like this to present itself.
Aaron Judge (99) and Gary Sanchez will make room for a new bomber in the lineup. (Image: CBSSports.com)
Breathing First, Winning Next
Many around baseball thought it would be Bryce Harper, when it’s his turn to hit free agency, that would put on the pinstripes. But Stanton’s availability was too good to pass up on, too good to ignore.
Oh, and the luxury tax threshold, which has become aligned with the Yankees as much as their pursuit of championships, they’ll reportedly remain under it, even with Stanton attempting to launch baseballs over the 4 train.
George Steinbrenner, the late Yankees owner, said it best, when it comes to how bad his team wants to win. Steinbrenner once said, “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.”
The Yankees will go back to being the hated, that’s okay. They’re used to the label of being the team everyone loves to hate.
They’ve been patiently waiting to strike. The emergence of Judge and Sanchez was just the beginning, Stanton’s arrival returns the Yankees back to their one and only mandate of a championship and nothing less.
With a core group like this, get ready for the next dynasty in the Bronx.
