Giancarlo Stanton tops ‘worst contracts’ list despite ALCS MVP run
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Follow UsDespite a bounce-back season and a dominant October, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton’s contract has been labeled one of baseball’s worst heading into 2025, as reported by Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter.
Hero to headache? Giancarlo Stanton’s contract under fire despite playoff glory
Reuter’s article, ranks the top 10 worst MLB contracts for the upcoming season, focusing on older players tied to long-term deals that no longer reflect their on-field production. Stanton, ranked seventh, joins the likes of Javier Báez of the Detroit Tigers and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, who topped the list.
The Yankees’ postseason hero delivered a stellar performance in the 2024 playoffs, hitting seven home runs with 16 RBIs and a 1.048 OPS, earning ALCS MVP honors while helping lead New York to a long-awaited World Series appearance. However, Reuter argues that Stanton’s October heroics don’t make up for his struggles during the regular season.
Stanton, now 35, is entering the final stretch of his 13-year, $325 million contract. He is set to earn $32 million in 2025, $29 million in 2026, and $25 million in 2027. While the Miami Marlins are covering $20 million of his salary for the final two years, Stanton’s recent seasons highlight concerns about his value. Over the past three years, he has posted a cumulative 0.6 WAR and has not played more than 114 games in a single season since 2021.
Reuter’s analysis also points to the Yankees’ financial situation as a factor. With the team reportedly eyeing a historic deal for free agent Juan Soto, contracts like Stanton’s and DJ LeMahieu’s—who earned an honorable mention on the list—are under increased scrutiny.
While Stanton’s playoff performance and the Marlins’ contribution to his salary mitigate some concerns, his declining regular-season production and inability to stay healthy raise questions about how his contract will age. As the Yankees remain in win-now mode, balancing such deals alongside new acquisitions will be critical to their success.
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Stanton is the screaming reminder why the Yankees should not sign Soto. Anthony Santander, Christian Walker, Joc Pederson, Bellinger, Adames…..the Yanks need to add 2 or 3 of those names to fill out the roster with quality hitters and create a more balanced 1-9 lineup. Signing Soto is a status quo move that does literally nothing to improve their offense. And the money they save by not signing Soto will also allow them to pursue quality pitching. The right moves can upgrade both the offense and pitching resulting in a club that has an excellent chance to return to the WS and win. And the flexibility derived from not carrying absurdly long contracts will allow them to sign quality FA’s next year and beyond thus giving them the best chance to stay on top.