3 Yankees players who’ll be better in 2023, and 2 who won’t
By Tim Boyle
These three New York Yankees players will be better in 2023 while these other two will be the same or worse.
The New York Yankees are usually one of the most aggressive teams in the offseason. This winter, many of their biggest moves involved retaining star players. Aaron Judge has a new contract. So does Anthony Rizzo. Those two important sluggers weren’t going to get away easily.
For the most part, the Yankees roster is full of familiar names. A few prospects could fight their way onto the Opening Day roster. Those who don’t will be options later on in the season.
Last year’s team had a couple of players who underperformed. Masked by the dominance from Judge and the team’s record, it’s easy to forget how bad some Yankees were. In 2023, these three players will be better while these other two will be the same or worse.
Why Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will be better in 2023
Entering his sixth year with the Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton’s time in the Bronx has included some extremes. He has missed significant time. Last season was no exception. In 110 games for the Yankees, Stanton hit .211/.297/.462. He smashed 31 home runs in only 452 plate appearances, providing the team with some awesome power when he was available.
One thing Stanton has consistently done for the Yankees is hit for power. His .499 slugging percentage with the team doesn’t quite get to the .554 he slugged with the Miami Marlins. It’s still not bad for a guy who has a worse reputation.
It’s hard to imagine Stanton has gone full Joey Gallo on the Yankees. His huge drop in batting average shouldn’t be the norm. Although he has had seasons in the past with poor batting averages or OBPs, it would be a huge shock to see him do worse this season.
The first step will be to remain healthy. Stanton remains a key part of the Yankees offense. It may not be MVP-level this season. It’ll be much less bitter. Baby steps.