New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday he is “open” to reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge playing left field in Yankee Stadium this season in order to get Giancarlo Stanton more games in right field.
Judge has never played left field during his seven-year major league career.
“I’m open to things like that, especially in the home ballpark,” Boone told reporters at spring training in Tampa, Fla. “So we’ll see. It’s something that I would say I’m at least considering and is on the table and we’ll just kind of see how that goes and letting that play out, getting guys reps at different spots.
“No decisions on that yet, but it is something on my board.”
Judge — who signed a nine-year, $360 million deal in December and was named the 16th captain in Yankees history — said he is open to the move to help get Stanton more time in the other corner outfield spot.
“I did mention it to him, if we need to get Big G in right field at Yankee Stadium, put me in left,” Judge said of his conversation with Boone on more playing time for Giancarlo Stanton. “I don’t mind it. I don’t mind switching around so we can have (Harrison) Bader, me and Big G out there. So we’ll get some reps in spring training and (get) comfortable out there.”
For all the notice his record-breaking 62 home runs received in 2022, Judge also did not commit an error in 129 starts in the outfield. He started 78 games in center field and 73 in right.
“I don’t think I’ve played left field since probably college,” Judge said.
The Yankees acquired Harrison Bader at the trade deadline in August. A 2021 Gold Glove winner, Bader projects to be the Yankees’ go-to center fielder.
Stanton played 34 games in right field and four in left last season, but he has primarily been New York’s designated hitter. Stanton said playing outfield allows him to be “more engaged” than being a DH, where he feels he’s in the dugout or clubhouse “watching the game on TV.”
Stanton was named an All-Star last season for the fifth time, and was the game’s MVP, but he finished with a career-low slash line of .211/.297/.462.
“I am of the belief that (Stanton) playing in the outfield is good for his game,” Boone said. “But I also think it’s good for his health. Playing the field, when healthy, gives him a better shot at staying healthy.”
Having Judge play left field part-time also could help settle the Yankees’ plan for that position. Their other options are Aaron Hicks, who has batted just .211 and slugged .317 over the past two years combined, and emerging rookie Oswaldo Cabrera, a utility player.
–Field Level Media