The New York Yankees are close to getting Giancarlo Stanton back in their lineup, but it may come at the cost of getting Ben Rice consistent at-bats.
Rice has been the team’s primary designated hitter. He is having a breakout year, carrying a .860 OPS and hitting 10 home runs already. He hit seven home runs in 50 games last year and has surpassed that in 46 games this year. However, the designated hitter spot will not be available once Stanton returns. According to the New York Post’s Greg Joyce, Stanton is set to start taking live batting practice soon.
“The Yankees slugger will head to Tampa this week to take live batting practice ‘for the next two weeks,’ general manager Brian Cashman said Sunday on MLB Network Radio, with a rehab assignment potentially following,” wrote Joyce.
The Yankees have not made a decision on whether or not he will need a rehab assignment. He has been dealing with tennis elbow in both arms since spring training, but has avoided rehab assignments in the past.
Rice cannot realistically take over at first base or catcher. Paul Goldschmidt and Austin Wells will keep their roles barring injury. The Yankees could consider moving Rice to third base, but that would not be an easy move to make.
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Stanton hit 27 home runs last season and added seven more in the postseason. He will likely be in the lineup every day as soon as he’s ready. It will be hard to justify keeping Rice out of the lineup, so the Yankees face a tough decision soon.
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