The New York Yankees haven’t won a World Series title since 2009, but slugger Giancarlo Stanton still believes it’s the Yankee way. The former Miami Marlins superstar joined the Yankees in 2018 with the hope of winning a title.
So far, they haven’t. Stanton and company came closest in 2024 by ending the World Series appearance drought, but they were quickly dispatched in five games by the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have retooled and are once again looking for the drought-breaking title in 2026.
Stanton believes his career, which could get him into the Hall of Fame someday, is missing something without a ring.
Giancarlo Stanton believes he needs a ring
Giancarlo Stanton has only played in the playoffs a handful of times with the New York Yankees. He’s been an excellent performer in postseason play, though. He has 18 home runs and 44 RBI in 48 games played.
Over the course of a 162-game season, that would translate to 61 home runs (a career-best mark) and 148 RBI. Put simply, his game rises to another level when the calendar flips to October, and he was outstanding in their 2024 postseason run.
But he still doesn’t have a ring. His career is missing something until he does. “It’s definitely incomplete,” he said via ESPN at spring training for the Yankees. “The point of being a Yankee is being a champion.”
The Yankees need Stanton in the lineup, which has not always been a given. His health has been a major issue over the last eight seasons in pinstripes, but he is adamant that he’s healthy. “I’m good. Ready to go,” Stanton maintained. “As I said before, it’s not going anywhere. (Elbow issues are) always going to be maintenance, but it didn’t hinder me from any work.”
Stanton missed a chunk of the 2025 season with tennis elbow in both arms, but he was able to return and contribute in the second half and in the playoffs. For him, it’s all about preparation. “A lot of hold, strengthening, make sure I’m able to maintain holding and swinging with power and throwing.”
Stanton primarily plays DH due to his health concerns, but if he were able to play the field ever, it would allow the Yankees to get creative with rest or DH days for other players.
The Yankees need Stanton
With Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger in the lineup, Giancarlo Stanton can sometimes be overlooked. He’s not the superstar he once was, but he’s still an imposing presence, one that the team understands is very valuable.
“With us over the last couple of years (having) become more and more left-handed, his presence in the middle is just really big,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s like having that guy lingering there, that’s Big G in the middle.”
“He just processes things really well and really gains from the things he sees: the experience, the times he faces a pitcher, how he processes that and puts it to use in future at-bats against guys,” Boone continued. “I think he knows himself incredibly well as a hitter, but his presence with just the makeup of our club is huge.”
Stanton has an outside shot at the Hall of Fame. Getting to major milestones, like 500 career homers, would boost his case tremendously, but he’s not at all worried about that. “Numbers like the next one and the next one is good for now,” he said. “Those numbers, 500 or what not, is the same as we’re going to win the World Series right now. You got each day to do work and prove and do something positive.”
That may or may not matter to Stanton, but winning a World Series absolutely does.
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