<!–>
The New York Yankees barged into spring training seeking redemption after collapsing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. They understood the long season ahead would be different without Juan Soto, who chose the Mets in free agency after being the second-best hitter in the Yankees’ American League pennant-winning lineup, but they still felt good about their chances thanks to a new roster injected with splashy free-agent additions.
It didn’t take long for their depth to be tested.
With Opening Day in the Bronx just over three weeks away, the Yankees will start the season without two key players: designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (tennis elbows) and starting pitcher Luis Gil (high grade right lat strain). Gil could spend three or more months on the injured list, while the timetable for Stanton’s absence remains unclear. This marks the sixth straight season that Stanton will spend time on the IL. He hasn’t played a full season since 2018, his first year with the Yankees.
It’s hardly a shock that Stanton, entering his age-35 season, is already sidelined — but it’s still a huge blow to the Yankees’ Soto-less offense, and another bump in the slugger’s path to 500 career home runs. Stanton leads all active hitters with 429 career homers, and he’s just 24 long balls away from passing Carl Yastrzemski into 40th place on the all-time list. After that? His next stop could be the Hall of Fame.
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
“Knowing you’ve got No. 27 lurking on deck behind you, it always helps you out,” Aaron Judge told reporters at George M. Steinbrenner Field last week. “It’s going to be a tough blow, you can’t replace him.”
Ahead of the 2024 season, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said it’s only a matter of time before Stanton runs into an injury. The slugger responded by staying relatively healthy, missing a few weeks due to a hamstring strain, and hitting 27 home runs and 20 doubles with a 115 OPS+ across 114 games. Then he erupted in October, crushing seven home runs with a 1.048 OPS in a loud postseason that helped the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009. He was named MVP of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians and reminded us that, when he’s healthy, Stanton is one of the most lethal hitters in the game.
But this year, the Yankees announced Stanton was dealing with pain in both elbows before the full roster even reported to spring training. Stanton hasn’t swung a bat since mid-January due to the pain, and there has been no update on a timeline for his return since he received PRP injections in both arms last week in New York, where he’s since been for personal reasons. Stanton is expected back in Yankees camp this week but, since he dealt with elbow pain throughout last season, the Yankees will likely slow-play his resumption of baseball activities.
“He’s definitely frustrated,” said Judge, who has spoken to Stanton since he left Yankees camp in Tampa. “But we all want him back.”
The Bombers should still hold onto their high expectations for the year and avoid letting the extended missed time from key players derail their season. They’re still the favorites to win the AL East, and FanGraphs’ projection system is giving the Yankees a 7.4% chance of winning the World Series. Only the Dodgers (22.7%) and Atlanta Braves (15.1%) have a higher chance of winning a championship, according to their preseason odds. Besides Judge doing Judge things, huge performances from new Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger and veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, plus a full season in pinstripes from Jazz Chisholm and top prospect Jasson Dominguez, will ameliorate the sting of Stanton’s time on the IL.
Skipper Aaron Boone has indicated the Yankees will turn to in-house options and rotate through a cycle of designated hitters to make up for Stanton’s bat. Outside alternatives are essentially nonexistent at this point in the spring, besides 37-year-old free agent J.D. Martinez, who the Yankees reportedly have had contact with, but he’s coming off a disappointing season with the Mets. The only other DH on the market is Matt Carpenter, who just turned 39 and posted a -0.1 WAR in 59 games for the Cardinals last year.
Players in Yankees camp who are vying for Stanton’s role include first baseman Dominic Smith, first baseman/catcher Ben Rice, outfielder Everson Pereira, and catcher/infielder J.C. Escarra. The high-water mark for those candidates is underwhelming compared to what Stanton offers as a right-handed power bat, particularly in a Yankees lineup that is skewed left-handed, but if Cashman can be savvy with the way he uses his roster depth, then it could buy the Yankees the time they need until No. 27 returns.
Start expecting Judge to receive some DH at-bats, too, to give his legs a rest from the outfield and increase the odds of the Yankees’ most important hitter staying healthy all year. With Judge as the DH, the Yankees could slide fourth outfielder Trent Grisham into the lineup, or give more chances to other hitters in camp competing for a larger role on the team.
The silver lining is Stanton’s injury woes are at the onset of the season, rather than in the middle of a pennant race. The Yankees have options to stay afloat while he’s sidelined and, until then, they can learn about the strengths of their new lineup without him. At this point in his career, Stanton’s greatest asset is being dangerous for the Yankees in the playoffs, and spring is only just beginning. For now, time is on the Yankees’ side.
“G was so steady for us last year,” Boone said. “Obviously, what he did in the postseason and just his presence in the middle … there’s no sugarcoating that. We miss that presence. But hopefully we get him right before too long, and we’ll get him back in the middle [of the lineup] in due time.”
Deesha Thosar is a MLB reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets for four years as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Giancarlo Stanton
New York Yankees
Major League Baseball
<!–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
–>
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
What were the 10 biggest storylines in sports in February?
FOX Sports Research
The new year is already in full swing, as the month of February has come to a close.
It was an eventful month to say the least, with a few teams winning championships in some sports and others making playoff runs elsewhere. But what were the absolute biggest storylines in sports over the past month?
We dove into what transpired in all sports, including college football, the NFL, college basketball, the NBA, MLB and soccer, in February and gave you the biggest headlines to follow.
Let’s take a look:
ADVERTISEMENT
<!–>
10 biggest storylines in sports in February
10. Patrick Reed makes hole-in-one at LIV Golf Adelaide
It’s not often you see a hole-in-one in golf, let alone at a professional event with the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka all in the mix. But it was Patrick Reed who pulled off the impossible, making a hole-in-one at the Watering Hole less than 20 minutes after the shotgun start. His 8-iron at the 151-yard par-3 set off a scene reminiscent of two years ago when Chase Koepka delivered LIV Golf’s first ace at the famous party hole. Reed’s ace is the ninth in league history.
“It’s awesome to give the fans what they want,” said Reed, making his fifth competitive ace (and sixth overall) of his career. “That’s why we want to be out here: Golf, but louder.” Reed’s hole-in-one was one of the few highlights of his 1-over 73. He finished the event T-37th at +2.
9. Auburn and Duke keep rolling
As of March 3, these two teams are a whopping 54-5, with No. 1 Auburn at 27-2 and No. 2 Duke at 27-3. Johni Broome and Cooper Flagg are currently the favorites to win the Wooden Award (National Player of the Year), with Flagg at -140 and Broome at +110. Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, became the first ACC player with 500 points, 100 assists and 30 blocks in a season since at least 1996-97, and is one of four freshmen ever in the last 25 seasons to average 20 points per game on 50% shooting and 40% three-point shooting — joining Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley and CJ McCollum.
Broome on the other hand? His 31-point, 14-rebound, four-assist game in a win over Georgia made him the only player to reach those totals against a Division I team this season. Ben Simmons is the only other SEC player with that many points, rebounds and assists in a game this century. The NCAA Tournament couldn’t come quicker for these two teams.
8. MLS is back, Messi’s still got it
The 2025 MLS season kicked off on Feb. 22, but it was in CONCACAF Champions Cup where Lionel Messi reminded us just how good he is. He opened the scoring for Inter Miami with an absolute banger in the 19th minute against Sporting Kansas City. The Argentinian received a ball off his chest, let it drop one time, and then sent a rocket from nearly outside of the box. Miami went on to win the match 3-1, and is 1-0-1 (W-L-D) in MLS play. Messi & Co. will look to repeat as the league’s point leader.
7. William Byron wins Daytona 500
From FOX Motorsports Insider Bob Pockrass:
William Byron went from seventh to first in the final two miles as the leaders crashed in front of him, and he slipped by on the outside. Byron started the final lap in ninth. “This win, it brought me to laughter,” Byron crew chief Rudy Fugle said. “Because I looked up and we’re getting ready to win, and it was just amazing.” Byron, who won NASCAR’s biggest race for the second consecutive year, got out of his car and was, frankly, a little perplexed. “Crazy,” Byron said. “I can’t honestly believe that. But we’re here.”
Read more from Pockrass here.
6. Alex Bregman signs with Red Sox
From FOX Sports MLB writer Rowan Kavner:
Alex Bregman and the Red Sox reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $120 million which includes deferrals, an important note considering the otherwise massive short-term commitment from a longtime powerhouse franchise. Over the past seven years, Bregman has been worth the second-most wins above replacement among all MLB third basemen, behind only José Ramírez. He’s no longer producing the offensive numbers that made him a two-time All-Star, 7-9 WAR player and top-five MVP finisher in 2019 and 2020, but he remains one of the best players at his position. Bregman’s expert plate discipline and stout defense at the hot corner have helped him consistently remain a well above league-average hitter with 20-plus-homer pop and one of the better defensive third basemen in the sport, even at 30.
Read more from Kavner here.
5. Jimmy Butler gets traded to Warriors
From FOX Sports NBA writer Melissa Rohlin:
Jimmy Butler is joining a Warriors team that won four titles in eight years from 2015-2022, but has struggled since, getting eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in 2023 and missing the postseason altogether last year. The Warriors believe this is their chance to be great again. Steph Curry called Butler a winner, adding, “When the stakes get higher, he rises to the occasion.” Added Warriors coach Steve Kerr: “I think he’ll fit right in.” Draymond Green didn’t hesitate when asked if he believes Butler could make the Warriors champions. “I think so,” Green told FOX Sports. “We’ve obviously got to put it together and figure it out. But I definitely think this puts us in contention to compete at the highest level — 1,000 percent. You’ve got a chance to get one of the top 20 players in the NBA. That’s incredible.”
Read more from Rohlin here.
4. Tom Izzo breaks Big Ten wins record
Michigan State came from behind to beat Illinois 79-65 on Feb. 15 for Izzo’s 354th career Big Ten victory, breaking former Indiana coach Bob Knight’s record of 353 conference wins. “What a win,” Izzo said. “You talk about the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.”
Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson made the night extra special for Izzo by scoring 11 points. Richardson is the son of former Michigan State star Jason Richardson, who was a key member of the Spartans’ 2000 NCAA championship team. Jase is the first son of a former player to play for Izzo. A 2016 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Izzo has a record 26 straight NCAA Tournament appearances and eight trips to the Final Four on his resume, which also includes 10 Big Ten regular-season titles and six Big Ten Tournament championships.
3. Canada takes down USA in the 4 Nations Tournament
Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game to give Canada a 3-2 overtime victory over the United States on Feb. 20 as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy. Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada. Jordan Binnington made 25 saves in the first three periods and six more in the extra period on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup five years ago. Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT.
2. Luka Doncic gets traded to the Lakers
Arguably the biggest trade in NBA history, and also one of the most shocking in all of professional sports, happened at the start of the month. This year’s NBA trade deadline saw Anthony Davis sent to Dallas and Luka Dončić to the Lakers. Dončić, 26, is a five-time All-Star and five-time first-team All-NBA player who was in the midst of his seventh season with the Mavericks. He won the NBA scoring title just a year ago and helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, where they lost in five games to the Boston Celtics.
Davis, 31, is a 10-time All-Star who is also a four-time first-team All-NBA player. He was in the midst of his sixth season in L.A., and won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. While it’s still a bit early to see how the trade has affected both teams, Dallas has only Davis’ services for one game due to injury — while Dončić has already recorded a triple-double and helped propel the Lakers to the No. 2 seed at 38-21.
1. Eagles win Super Bowl LIX
Two years after falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles were able to avenge that loss in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles are Super Bowl champions once again after throttling the two-time defending champs 40-22. The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. The Eagles took a 24-0 lead going into halftime and were up 34-0 before the Chiefs scored their first points of the game late in the third quarter. It was the largest margin of victory for a team in the big game since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV.
With the win, the Eagles joined the New England Patriots and the Chiefs as the only NFL franchises with multiple Super Bowl wins in the past 15 years. Despite the game not being close, it still ended up as the most-watched Super Bowl ever with 127.7 million viewers. Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance also set a viewership record. The halftime show delivered 133.5 million viewers from 8:30-8:45 p.m. ET, making it the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.
–> <!–>
–>
Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports
