Who in their right mind would trade for Giancarlo Stanton and his behemoth contract? That is the conundrum the New York Yankees are currently facing, as Stanton only serves value as a hitter at this point in time.
Stanton‘s injuries have essentially taken him out of defensive duties in left field, so the Yankees are happily paying him $29 million next year to be there every day designated hitter. However, this past season Stanton only manage to play 23 games. Over the past two years, Stanton has played just 51 games, less than the abbreviated 2020 campaign offered.
Of course, there’s always the idea of trading Aaron Judge, but the Yankees have already carved out a section in their stadium for his court members, so we can take that off the table before it breeds any alternate reality ideas.
The only outfielder that is worth trading is Clint Frazier, and the only scenario that makes complete sense is the acquisition of Francisco Lindor, who would fill the shortstop edition with an all-star caliber glove and bat.
The only issue, Brett Gardner had his club option declined, and Frazier prove that he can hold down the starting left field position on an everyday basis.
The New York Post’s George A. King believes that Frazier can’t be traded:
After he improved significantly in the outfield and was solid at the plate this past season, Frazier has morphed into a player the Yankees can’t deal because of how important he is to their future. “It is almost to the point where they can’t trade him because you don’t know about the other two guys,” an NL talent evaluator said of the 26-year-old Frazier and right fielder Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. … The most notable difference from other years is how much he improved on defense and making more of a commitment to playing defense,. And I think he has grown up. Whoever helped him, he has responded.”