Fansided

Winners and losers from the Giancarlo Stanton fallout

By Joshua Sadlock

MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 29: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins tosses a ball in the air during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on September 29, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 29: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins tosses a ball in the air during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on September 29, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JULY 10: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Marlins Park on July 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JULY 10: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Marlins Park on July 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

1. Major League Baseball

There’s nothing good about Giancarlo Stanton going to the Yankees for most baseball fans, but there is no denying that it is great for the league. Stanton was already one of the most popular hitters in MLB. Now, he will be teamed up with emerging “face of baseball” Aaron Judge. Marketing executives in the league offices have to be salivating.

The competitive merits of having the two best home-run hitters in the league playing for the same team is debatable. Judge and Stanton combined for 111 home runs last season, and that’s not even accounting for catcher Gary Sanchez, who has homered 49 times per 162 games in his first two-plus years in the majors. The Yankees are going to be an offensive sight to behold.

The Yankees are back to their Evil Empire ways, and that’s scary if you root against them. It’s also good for the sport as a whole on multiple levels. MLB has lagged behind other leagues when it comes to marketing its superstars, but Judge and Stanton have been handed to them on a silver platter. There’s no messing this up from a publicity standpoint. As hard as it is to watch the Yankees running roughshod over the league, baseball is definitely more intriguing when there is a clearly defined enemy for most of us to hate.

In 2017, the Yankees somehow became lovable underdogs. That’s gone now, but they may still be able to avoid going full heel, unlike the Golden State Warriors. Their young players are fun, unlike the strictly corporate Yankees led by Derek Jeter in the 1990s who dominated with a quiet arrogance. Love them or hate them, the Baby Bombers play the game with a level of joy and exuberance not seen before in the Bronx. That won’t change with Stanton.

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