Giancarlo Stanton Introduced by Yankees, Excited to Play with Aaron Judge
December 11, 2017
The New York Yankees introduced new slugger Giancarlo Stanton in a press conference Monday afternoon, and Stanton made it clear he was happy to be in New York.
"I gave them the teams I wanted," he said of his conversations with the Miami Marlins after he requested a trade, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. "New York was definitely at the top of the list."
He also expressed his excitement for getting the opportunity to play with fellow slugger Aaron Judge:
Mark Feinsand @FeinsandStanton spoke with Aaron Judge a few days ago. “We’re excited to get better together.”
Stanton also confirmed that he was willing to play multiple positions for the team, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPN. Because Judge and Stanton both play in right field, there was some potential positional conflict there, but Stanton said he was willing to serve as a designated hitter or play elsewhere.
General manager Brian Cashman, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, broke down how the team might handle that situation:
Bryan Hoch @BryanHochCashman reached out to Judge before making the Stanton trade, explaining how RF/DH rotation could work. “He is pumped,” Cashman said.
Bryan Hoch @BryanHochCashman on where Stanton will play: “Right field, DH, maybe left field.” Said that Stanton has been open to whatever the team wants.
Stanton's goal is clear, regardless of position.
"I want to make this team better," he noted, per Feinsand.
It's hard to imagine he won't make an already scary Yankees lineup all the more dangerous. The defending NL MVP hit .281 with 59 homers and 132 RBI in 2017, while Judge was an AL MVP candidate after hitting .284 with 52 dingers and 114 RBI. Add in position players like Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius, and the Yankees have a superb core to build around.
That's a scary proposition, and Stanton was very clear that he was excited to begin the Yankees era of his career, according to Hoch:
Bryan Hoch @BryanHoch“It’s going to be a great new chapter of my life and my career.” - @Giancarlo818 https://t.co/ppaWeOJtIC
There were two sides to his excitement, however. Stanton didn't mince his words when discussing his former organization, the Miami Marlins, encouraging Miami fans to "Watch from afar if you're going to watch," per Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.
He added that, "You guys in the media have seen how it goes down there. No structure. No direction," according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.
Stanton also elaborated on the discussions he had with Miami co-owner and CEO Derek Jeter and the trade talks the Marlins engaged in with various teams around baseball, per Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports:
Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterraStanton says he gave them a list of teams he'd approve trades to. St. Louis and San Francisco were not on it, but the Marlins went to them anyway. Stanton says they're "great people, great teams," and that he listened, but they weren't on his list.
Stanton, of course, had a no-trade clause, allowing him to veto any deal. Ultimately, he was able to orchestrate a move to New York in exchange for Starlin Castro and minor leaguers Jorge Guzman and infielder Jose Devers.
That allowed the Marlins to continue their rebuild and left the Yankees with one of the most threatening rosters in all of baseball.
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