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New York Yankees: The 10 biggest mistakes the Yankees ever made

By Ryan Morik

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees reacts in pain after hitting the ball off his foot in an MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 30, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees reacts in pain after hitting the ball off his foot in an MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 30, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the fifth inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 21, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the fifth inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 21, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

7. Trading for Giancarlo Stanton instead of signing J.D. Martinez

I am the furthest thing from a Giancarlo Stanton hater. People who trash this guy are not Yankee fans, let alone baseball fans, and don’t deserve any happiness when it comes to the Yankees.

But J.D. Martinez has been the better player and has also managed to stay on the field.

While Stanton blasted 38 home runs and drove in 100 runs in 2018, the whole “he carried the Yankees when Judge was hurt” line is a myth. While Judge was injured, Stanton slashed just .224/.318/.471.

Yes, Stanton did have a 68-game stretch with a .946 OPS, but let’s hold the horses a bit.

Stanton notoriously missed all but 18 games last season, and missed a chunk of postseason games. Martinez, who is also on a cheaper contract, has played in 296 games with a .985 OPS in the last two years.

Of course, Stanton can play the outfield much better than Martinez, but it is looking more and more likely that Stanton will be a full-time designated hitter.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but if you gave the Yankees truth serum, there’s a chance that they would want to rewind to that offseason and take Martinez from Boston.

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