Giancarlo Stanton will not be ready for Opening Day.
The Yankees slugger came into camp with tennis elbow in both of his elbows, which has kept him from performing any baseball activities. The former NL MVP even went back to New York to get further testing done to determine his options before he received PRP injections and will start the season on the IL.
Stanton's absence is a huge blow to a Yankees lineup that lost Juan Soto in the offseason, and is searching for the right player to protect Aaron Judge. While there is no shortage of veterans on the team and around the diamond who can help pick up the slack, the Yankees have to find someone to take Stanton's spot on Opening Day.
Unlike the competition for third base, Stanton was a DH so the Yankees will have some wiggle room on who they can choose. Here are some of the best candidates they can choose from...
Everson Pereira
Pereira was once a highly-touted Yankees prospect but has had a bit of bad luck of late.
In 2023, the 23-year-old was called up but struggled. He slashed .151/.233/.194 with a .427 OPS and four doubles to go along with his 10 RBI across 27 games.
Despite those struggles, major league experience is invaluable, and he was a solid outfielder. Unfortunately, Pereira won’t be seeing the field any time soon. He suffered an elbow injury last spring that required surgery, costing him the 2024 season.
Now, Pereira is healthy enough to swing a bat but may be strictly a DH, which is all he's done early in camp. Pereira has looked comfortable at the plate so far in spring, and he can run the bases well. But being limited to DH duties may not be what the Yankees want to start the season.
However, Pereira could be the best right-handed option in camp.
Ben Rice
Rice, like Pereira, has major league experience. With the injury to Anthony Rizzo last year, Rice was called up to play first base. A catcher by trade, Rice proved to be serviceable, if not a bit rough around the edges, at first and at the plate.
Across 50 games, Rice slashed .171/.264/.349 with a .613 OPS. While those numbers aren’t pretty to look at, the 26-year-old showed his prodigious power, launching seven home runs -- three coming in one game.
Rice is an intriguing choice as he has experience playing first and has played behind the plate this spring. That utility could be a potential lane for Rice to be the team’s DH and third catcher on the bench, especially as a power-hitting left-hander who could pair with a right-hander.