Stanton (elbows) to begin season on IL, clouding Yanks' DH picture

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will begin the season on the injured list after receiving platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in his elbows this past week, the club announced on Saturday.

Stanton has been unable to swing a bat since mid-January due to pain in both elbows. He departed for New York on Feb. 24, attending to a matter that the Yankees said was ¡°private in nature,¡± and is expected to return to camp at some point in the next week.

Yankees captain Aaron Judge said he has spoken to Stanton, whom he described as ¡°definitely frustrated.¡±

¡°It¡¯s going to be tough, because you can¡¯t replace a guy like him,¡± Judge said. ¡°Just besides the numbers he¡¯s going to put up, there is the fear factor; you¡¯ve got No. 27 lurking on deck behind you. It kind of always helps you out.¡±

New York manager Aaron Boone said, considering Stanton¡¯s injury and his ongoing absence, the 35-year-old veteran no longer has enough time to be ready for the March 27 season opener against the Brewers.

¡°The biggest thing is getting him right, and if that costs us a little bit on the front end, so be it,¡± Boone said. ¡°I do feel like we¡¯ll get to a good spot with this. It¡¯s a long year.¡±

Stanton¡¯s injury raises the question of who will serve as the Yankees¡¯ designated hitter, an issue that grew murkier on Saturday when infielder DJ LeMahieu tweaked his left calf in the Yankees¡¯ 9-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Astros.

Stanton was a postseason force for the Bombers last October, which included being named the MVP of the American League Championship Series against the Guardians.

During the regular season, Stanton posted a .233/.298/.475 slash line with 20 doubles, 27 homers and 72 RBIs in 114 games. He missed approximately a month with a left hamstring strain.

With Stanton unavailable, Judge could see increased turns in the designated hitter role, as he did when Stanton went on the IL last summer. That could create a defensive alignment in which Trent Grisham plays center field, Cody Bellinger moves to right field and Jasson Dom¨ªnguez plays left field.

¡°I¡¯m good with whatever you¡¯ve got to do, because I know we¡¯ve got a lot of good outfield options,¡± Judge said. ¡°So [maybe] that opens up a chance for Grisham, who¡¯s been swinging the bat well on the back fields, to maybe get some more playing time. Or maybe move Cody over to right for a little bit; whatever we¡¯ve got to do to help the team win.

¡°You can¡¯t really replace Stanton, his production and what he does -- having somebody like that in the middle of the lineup. But I¡¯m open. Boonie always communicates well with me on what his plan is and what he wants to do.¡±

Boone said the DH decision will ultimately depend on the roster's makeup and individual pitching matchups. He does see a potential benefit in giving Judge half-days, particularly early in the season.

¡°But I also value Aaron¡¯s defense in the outfield, especially when he¡¯s physically in a really good spot,¡± Boone said. ¡°So we¡¯ll see; I¡¯ll pick my spots.¡±

In the wake of Stanton¡¯s injury, the Yankees reportedly have had contact with free-agent slugger J.D. Martinez, who slashed .235/.320/.406 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs in 120 games for the Mets last year. Other DH options in camp include catcher/first baseman Ben Rice, outfielder Everson Pereira, catcher/infielder J.C. Escarra and first baseman/outfielder Dom Smith.

¡°We¡¯ve got a lot of good options here,¡± Judge said. ¡°Maybe it will open some spots for some guys to get quality at-bats for us early on in the season.¡±