Ex-Red Sox great taunts Giancarlo Stanton over offseason transformation

Thursday January 4, 2024

In his quest to rebound in the upcoming season, Giancarlo Stanton has undergone a physical transformation this offseason. However, the new appearance of the Yankees slugger in a leaner physique was mocked by a former rival, who poked fun at Big-G’s offseason changeover.

Former Boston relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon couldn’t resist jabbing trimmed-down Giancarlo Stanton. He’s putting his money on the Yankee not meeting expectations in the home run department in 2024, extending a bold wager to Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy to take the opposing stance.

Old Sox foe mocks Giancarlo Stanton

New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton poses for a photograph shotting — giancarlo818

Adding fuel to the fire is a circulated image of a visibly trimmer Giancarlo Stanton, aligning with the Yankees‘ reported offseason initiative to have their powerhouse shed some weight. Manager Aaron Boone has eagerly anticipated witnessing a lighter Stanton on the basepaths, expecting improved health throughout the upcoming season.

Hey @stoolpresidente I’m putting a million dollar bet on the under of total HR’s for Mike (Giancarlo) Stanton when the 2024 season starts. You in??#EasyMoney pic.twitter.com/DT2rdq0g8T
— Jonathan Papelbon (@TheRealJPap58) January 3, 2024

The aspiration, naturally, is that a slimmer Giancarlo Stanton can recapture the form that eluded him in 2023, a season marked by a career-low .191 average and just 24 home runs over 101 games. While official home run prop figures are yet to be released, Caesars Sportsbook has already positioned Giancarlo Stanton as a long shot at 75/1 to lead the majors in home runs. BetMGM anticipates his prop to hover around 29.5, similar to the previous year.

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton — kingston_donovan

Papelbon’s million-dollar wager might be inspired by Portnoy’s recent triumph, pocketing $1.5 million during the College Football Playoff. However, with Aaron Judge, the reigning home run king, emerging as a dominant favorite at Bet365 Sportsbook with a 47.5 prop, even a leaner Giancarlo Stanton faces an uphill battle.

So, will Giancarlo Stanton defy expectations and leave Papelbon on the losing end? Or will the streamlined version of the Bronx Bomber fall short, validating the former closer’s prediction? Time will be the ultimate judge, but one thing is certain: this baseball season is poised to be a thrilling contest, both on the diamond and in the realm of high-stakes wagers.

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