Giancarlo Stanton’s greatest struggle is with his own body, not with pitchers. But was it possible to avoid this injury? Stanton’s persistent elbow problems have kept him out of action as the 2025 MLB season draws near and also sparked concerns about his offseason routine and dedication to being in top physical shape. When Stanton underwent a third round of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to treat the ongoing pain in both elbows, his battle with elbow tendonitis became visible. This treatment, which aims to promote healing and reduce inflammation, highlights the seriousness of his ailment.

The Yankees, who have taken a conservative stance, see surgery as a last resort. His rehabilitation schedule’s uncertainty has clouded the team’s plans for the forthcoming season. Giancarlo Stanton’s condition reflected that he wasn’t “on top” of his elbow problems throughout the winter, which caused a chaotic atmosphere and expressed dissatisfaction. The mood is summed up in the WFAN tweet where Keith says, “I Am Disappointed with a 35-year-old Veteran… He should have been vocal and on top of this at the end of the season.”

Stanton’s absence has consequences that go beyond his performance; it has a significant effect on the squad’s dynamics. Due to Stanton’s injury, the Yankees must consider several lineup arrangements to cover for their star slugger. Brain Cashman answered directly to the media, and it was clear the Yankees are under pressure. “The complaints didn’t come up until right before camp,” Cashman said.

“Ultimately, he was dealing with it at the end of last year and obviously thought we were in a good place. I think he was feeling like we were in a good place, but then it reared its ugly head about three weeks before camp, is my understanding. So now we’re dealing with it. We’ll give it the time it needs. We clearly look forward to getting him back at some point, but obviously in the near term, that won’t be the case,” he further added.

With 27 home runs, 20 doubles, and 72 RBIs in 114 games last season, Giancarlo Stanton recorded a .233/.298/.475 slash line. After hitting seven home runs and dishing out 16 RBIs in the American League Championship Series against the Guardians, he was a force in the postseason and won MVP. Beyond the temporary fixes, the question hangs in the air: Can the Yankees fill Stanton’s void, or will roster depth fail them?

Offseason failure: Giancarlo Stanton’s injury and Yankees’ woes:

Due to a single injury, the Yankees‘ season has become a high-stakes experiment. Is the outcome going to be a breakthrough or a failure? Given his most recent injury setback, Giancarlo Stanton’s summer training schedule and approach to maintaining peak physical condition are under scrutiny. Questions are raised regarding whether he took the proper steps during the offseason to prevent such issues.

As a result of their designated hitter being out, the team may need to change its defensive posture by depending more on the captain, Aaron Judge, in the DH position. Furthermore, younger, less seasoned players like Everson Pereira may be given more prominent roles sooner than anticipated, which is both a problem and an opportunity.

The Yanks’ Grapefruit League lineup against the Twins on Thursday may serve as a sneak peek at the Opening Day order, and captain Aaron Judge will probably see more time in the DH position. Dom Smith, J.C. Escarra, Everson Pereira, and Ben Rice are other DH options in camp. During the 2024 Major League Baseball season, Smith played for the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. He had 58 RBIs, 15 home runs, and a .245 batting average across 120 games.

After starting the 2024 season as the Double-A Somerset Patriots’ third catcher, J.C. Escarra moved to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders. He recorded a.302 batting average, .403 OBP, and.527 SLG in 52 Triple-A games. The 2024 season saw 23-year-old outfielder Everson Pereira recuperate from Tommy John surgery. With a 1.224 OPS and a. .375 batting average throughout spring training in 2025, he has made an impression on Yankees management and is a serious contender for the Opening Day squad. On the contrary, Ben Rice has been a part of the Yankees in the minor league.

The interesting thing to watch is how Judge and Boone make the adjustments. Will the Yankees’ gamble on unproven talent pay off, or will Stanton’s absence reveal the cracks in their championship facade?