While dissecting the abysmal 2023 season fallouts, the New York Yankees discovered that something was fundamentally wrong with the organization. Thus, Hal Steinbrenner hired a third-party firm to conduct a ‘deep dive’ audit of the franchise’s analytical department. However, besides analytics, a lot of other things went wrong, which is right in front of the club’s eyes.
Firstly, injuries. Incessant injury stints of notable names cost the Yankees dearly. Secondly, the failure of reliable veterans. That is an area where the Bronx Bombers were disappointed the most. The likes of Josh Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu, and especially Giancarlo Stanton struggled heavily to remain consistent. Now, to change the negative narrative, Stanton is taking significant steps this off-season.
Giancarlo Stanton Likely To Go Light Weight Next Season To Enhance Athleticism!
The 2023 season was nothing short of a nightmarish season for the New York Yankees’ potent slugger Giancarlo Stanton. He finished the year with a career-low .191 batting average and .695 OPS. Obviously, the injuries played a huge role in the setback. Even after Stanton was reinstated from IL, he restricted himself on the field, which cost the Yanks match-winning moments. However, owing to contact complications, the Bronx Bombers are tied to him until 2027. Thus, to change the narrative and improve his overall athleticism, Stanton has decided to tweak his preparation process for the off-season. Stanton, known for his prodigious power at the plate, will shift focus to build a more agile physique to reduce susceptibility to injuries.
In the latest press conference, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone revealed that he expects Giancarlo Stanton to go lighter next season. The reduction in weight will eventually elevate his athleticism on the bases and in the field. The adjustment in Stanton’s fitness strategy is not about sacrificing power. But rather about optimizing his agility and flexibility. The goal is to strike the balance that allows Stanton to unleash his potent swing while minimizing the risk of strains and injuries. Undoubtedly, Giancarlo is one of the best hitters in the league when healthy. He struck 31 homers in 2022 with only 110 appearances. Moreover, Stanton registered 24 long hits amidst a career-low season. Thus, injuries remain the only hindrance to the slugger’s goal. If he avoids those setbacks in 2024, he will definitely come out as one of the top contributors of the season.
Yankees To Meet With Top Free Agency Target Soon!
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees are trying to pull off a blockbuster off-season. The foundation of the goal was laid on Wednesday night after the Yanks secured Juan Soto in a historic and by far the biggest trade heist of the off-season. However, the job is far from done. In a bid to acquire Soto, the Bombers parted with six pitchers, thus depleting the pitching depth.
Thus, acquiring Yoshinobu Yamamoto is now the need of the hour. Amid a rigorous negotiation schedule, Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Yamamoto is expected to meet with the Yankee officials in person on Monday. The New York Yankees remain a top landing spot for the Japanese ace. But competition is raging on from all ends. Thus, no possibility can be ruled out.
