Happy Holidays! Yankees trade for powerhouse hitter Giancarlo Stanton

Christmas has come early for the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have come to an agreement to acquire Giancarlo Stanton from Derek Jeter and the Miami Marlins. After some speculation, Jon Heyman was able to confirm the news earlier today. Both teams have not officially made an announcement.

It is a strange swap for both teams. The Marlins did not receive the huge return that one would normally get for someone like Stanton. In return, Marlins would be receiving second baseman Starlin Castro, who can now be considered this generations Alfonso Soriano. Top prospect Jorge Guzman and shortstop Jose Devers are also in the mix. It does help that New York can pick up $265 million of the remaining $295 million the outfielder is owed after signing a 13-year $325 million deal.

The move comes as a surprise to many. Everyone believed the Giants and Cardinals would be the clear front runners for Stanton. That changed when Stanton did not waive his no-trade clause to the teams. A few hours later, he accepted the deal to come to New York. Giancarlo, the reigning NL MVP, joins a roster that includes this years AL Rookie of the Year, Aaron Judge. If this all seems familiar, you aren’t going crazy. Stanton is the second MVP to be traded in the offseason. When was the last time you may ask? You guessed it, Alex Rodriguez in 2003 when the Yankees picked him up from the Texas Rangers.

Brian Cashman’s Yankees now have a formidable lineup that is highlighted by the two men (Stanton and Judge) who combined for 111 home runs. If everything goes according to plan, their run could be reminiscent of Maris and Mantle, McGuire and Canseco, etc. Don’t forget about sluggers Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius.

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The Yankees now have a surplus of outfielders. Joining Stanton and Judge is Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner, Clint Frazier and Jacoby Ellsbury. The latter could be next to leave the team, giving some more leeway. As discussed before, getting Giancarlo wasn’t entirely necessary, but who can’t resist a shiny new toy? Stanton can also be a DH, in order to rest his frequently-injured legs. Speaking of his legs, the deal could be dead depending on the physical. If he passes, the only thing to worry about would be protecting fans and buildings from Judge’s and Stanton’s power.

Besides frequent visits to the DL, another issue is strikeouts. Stanton struck out 163 times last season. It’s somewhat concerning considering his new teammate, Aaron Judge, struck out 208 times. If both can improve their k-ratio together, the Yankees will truly be in business.

Some of the credit to this deal can go to chief executive officer and part owner of the Marlins, Derek Jeter. His new career has started on an interesting run, as just like previous management, he is looking to cleanse the Marlins and start over. This deal comes after prized Japanese pitcher/hitter Shohei Ohtani signed with the Angels. The Angels may have gotten the modern-day equivalent to Babe Ruth, but the Yankees one-upped them by acquiring Giancarlo. The remaining $30 million Miami would be paying could help Hal Steinbrenner’s plan of reducing payroll below $197 million in 2018. The Yankees gained a once in a generation hitter, didn’t deplete their farm system and gained money along the way. This is a classic George Steinbrenner move, and an impressive one at that.

The Yankees have struck early and put the league on notice with this move. It’s up to the remaining teams to adapt to the situation, or perish under the Yankees’ might.