Giancarlo Stanton ‘ready to go’ for Yankees ALDS after wild-card no-show

· New York Post

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In a rare session with reporters, Giancarlo Stanton declared himself “ready to go, however they need me.” 

The question the Yankees were set to ask among themselves Friday: Do they, indeed, need him for the AL Division Series? 

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A remarkable comeback from three calf strains, which sidelined the slugger from late April until he was activated for the wild-card series, is in jeopardy. The Yankees, who carried just 10 pitchers with 16 position players in the best-of-three series against Boston, are considering 10-12 pitchers for the best-of-five ALDS against the Rays, manager Aaron Boone said. With more games, they may need more arms.

And against Tampa Bay rather than lefty-heavy Boston, the need for a righty who would only be used in pinch-hit scenarios lessens. Besides, it is at least possible Aaron Judge assumes that role if he can return to the field.

With rosters due Saturday morning before Game 1, Boone said Friday afternoon that the organization had not yet decided whether Stanton would remain active. 

New York Yankees pinch hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) reacts as he takes batting practice before game one of the Wildcard round of the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Against the Red Sox, Boone came close to pinch-hitting Stanton, he has said, but did not pull the trigger in a couple of blowouts. On Friday, Stanton was asked if he would have preferred getting an at-bat so he could see real major league pitching for the first time since he suffered the initial calf strain on April 24. 

“I prefer to get two wins and be here now,” Stanton said. “Is it always good to get [at-bats] for anybody for their timing? Yes.” 

Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge workout and chat in the outfield before the game when the New York Yankees played the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Stanton spoke in a media scrum for the first time since June — after his second calf strain and before a third that occurred in August — and declined to talk about how the “process was or the comeback” but offered: “I’m ready to help the team any way I can. … That’s all really I got to say about that.” 

The 36-year-old more commonly speaks with his bat, which owns a career .926 OPS with 18 home runs in 48 postseason games. 

He has worked his way into being, at the least, an option for the games he looks forward to the most and the games that one day could define his legacy. Stanton, like several prominent Yankees, does not have a World Series ring. 

“If there’s any time to erase a bad year, it’s in October,” Stanton said before taking batting practice at Tropicana Field. “So it’s the biggest opportunity to just show out for the city and do all we can do.” 

— Additional reporting by Greg Joyce