Giancarlo Stanton’s outfield trip is example of Yankees doubling down

There was a brief chat with manager Aaron Boone in front of his locker before Giancarlo Stanton finished putting on his pinstriped baseball pants one leg at a time and strode out of the clubhouse carrying a glove in his left hand. 

Stanton has not used his glove for real in almost two years, since Sept. 14, 2023. It seemed like an unnecessary, if not utterly incongruent accessory, kind of like a steer wearing a Louis Vuitton handbag. 

Apparently not. Following a week to 10 days of remedial outfield work after Aaron Judge went down with a flexor strain in his right elbow, Stanton is penciled in to play right field Saturday afternoon when Houston starts left-hander Framber Valdez, according to Boone. 

Judge, who DH’d Friday for the third time after missing 11 games, is a stretch away from assuming his natural post in right field. Many rules have been changed the last couple of years, but there is still only one DH per batting order.