Giancarlo Stanton: One of the Greatest? No, sadly...
By Paul Semendinger
August 24, 2026
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With the news that Giancarlo Stanton hurt himself, jogging around the bases (yet again), and with it looking like it is the end of his season (and maybe his career as a Yankee) many fans are claiming that Giancarlo Stanton is one of the great Yankees At the same time, others are claiming that he is one of the greatest post season players in Yankees history.
I am sorry, no. Not at all. No way. He just wasn't. He just isn't.
I am a fan of Giancarlo Stanton, but we have to look at his career honestly.
Let's take a quick look:
First - Giancarlo Stanton has zero World Series rings. That should end the discussion right there regarding greatest post season hitter.
Second, let's look at Stanton's overall performances in the post season year-by year:
2018: 5 games .238, 1 homer, 1 rbi, 7 strikeouts - Not good
2019: 5 games: .231, 1 homer, 2 rbis, 5 strikeouts - Not good
2020: 7 games: .308, 6 homers, 13 rbis, 10 strikeouts - Outstanding!
2021: 1 game: 3-for-4, homer, rbi - Great Game!
2022: 9 games: .188, 2 homers, 7 rbis, 9 strikeouts - Not good.
2024: 14 games: .273, 6 homers, 16 rbis, 11 strikeouts - Outstanding!
2025: 7 games: .192, 0 homers, 4 rbis, 6 strikeouts - Not good
7 Postseasons:
- 2 Outstanding postseasons
- 1 Great game
- 4 Not Good postseasons
To me, that isn't a great record. Giancarlo Stanton has had some amazing postseasons, but way more often...he hasn't.
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As for Stanton being a great Yankee. Again, I'm sorry, he simply hasn't been. The first requirement is showing up and, to be blunt, Stanton has not shown up.
This graphic says it all:
Games missed by season:
2018 = 4 games
2019 = 144 games
2020 = 37 (of 60)
2021 = 23 games
2022 = 52 games
2023 = 61 games
2024 = 48 games
2025 = 85 games
2026 = 138 games (assuming he doesn't return)
Over 9 seasons, Stanton has played 764 games as a Yankee. He averages 85 games played a season.
The 764 games played ranks Stanton 63rd all-time as a Yankee. Here are the players closest to Stanton in Games Played as a Yankee:
61st - Gene Michael, 789 games
62nd - Joe Dugan, 765 games
63rd - Giancarlo Stanton
64th - Birdie Cree - 743 games
65th - Johnny Lindell - 742 games
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Even more, Giancarlo Stanton has been a Yankee for 9 seasons. In that time, he has earned just 11.2 WAR.
Of his 9 seasons in pinstripes, Stanton has put up 1.0 WAR or more only three times.
No. Not great.
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With 189, Stanton is 20th all-time in homers as a Yankee
With 511, Stanton is 43rd all-time in runs batted in as a Yankee.
At .245, Stanton is tied for 64th all-time (with Frank Crosetti) in batting average.
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Over the entirety of his Yankees career, Giancarlo Stanton has never led the American league in any offensive category.
He has won no major awards.
He was an All-Star once.
He has never received even a single vote for MVP.
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Further, when he's played in the field, Stanton has been a liability.
On the basepaths, Stanton has been a poor baserunner.
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There is simply not an avenue to argue that Stanton has been a great Yankee.
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To be clear, none of this is to "hate" on Stanton.
I was thrilled when the Yankees traded for him.
I have always rooted for Stanton.
These are just simply the numbers that tell the story.
Giancarlo Stanton's Yankees career, to date, has been a huge disappointment.
That is just a fact. I wish it were otherwise.
Stanton's years as a Yankee began well
He played in 158 games in 2018, hitting 38 HRs and collecting 100 RBIs.
in almost half of those games, he was positioned as a corner outfielder and was nothing less than almost MLB average.
but he hit the ball
and earned a 4.4WAR rating from Baseball Reference.
never again did he play as many games in a season as a Yankee and nevre again was he quite as valuable.
Paul, when I agree with you, I agree with you, and here I agree with you. Stanton's another guy who could have been great, but his body betrayed him. He comes across as a hard worker and a good teammate. I wish him the best.
I have been a Yankee fan since 1977 and I have never seen a player this brittle. Constantly on the IL every year with some sort injury. Stanton hits for power but also strikes out alot too. So I wouldn't put him as one of the greatest.
Acquiring Stanton from the Marlins was one of Cashman's first c moves after he was allowed to send Girardi and his staff (minus Mile Harkey) packing. I called it a disaster then, and I really wish he could've proven me wrong, but he didn't.
I just hate acquiring guys on long term contracts, then throw in an injury history, and a NTC. I also knew by getting Stanton, there was no chance Bryce Harper and/or Manny Machado were coming here a year later. Then how many things were not even considered to be done roster wise because of Stanton?
I agree with the analysis. Someone tell me how many more seasons of $20 million+ are the Yankees on the hook for Stanton. I seems to me that next year he should be DFA'd and not prevent a more productive player from taking up the roster spot. Stanton is severely injury prone and will be injured again next year.