Giancarlo Stanton Says He's Prepared for Scrutiny of New York Media

Playing for the New York Yankees will present right fielder Giancarlo Stanton with challenges unlike those he faced with the Miami Marlins, but the 2017 National League Most Valuable Player believes he's up to the task.

"The good times will be magnified and so will the bad," Stanton said Wednesday, per the Associated Press. "The fans expect a lot. I expect a lot too. ... You've got to own up to your performance, to what you say, what you didn't say. That's how it should be. I like it."

Expectations couldn't be much higher for Stanton in 2018.

He hit 59 home runs and slugged .631 in 2017 despite playing half of his games in one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in baseball. Now, he'll be part of a lineup that was first in homers (241), fourth in slugging (.447) and second in weighted runs created plus (108), according to FanGraphs.

In February, MLB.com's Mike Petriello suggested the 2018 Yankees could challenge the single-season team home run record of 264, which the Seattle Mariners set in 1997.

Health will be the key to Stanton's success in the Big Apple. Since his first year as an Opening Day starter for the Marlins in 2011, he has averaged roughly 127 appearances annually. 

Just as important will be handling the scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile member of the Yankees. One bad month may cause some Yankees fans to begin questioning whether he's worth $25 million a year.

Stanton's understanding of the New York media landscape and his readiness to be under the microscope bodes well ahead of his debut campaign with the Yankees.