The Evil Empire is back. Last Saturday, the New York Yankees made a blockbuster trade, one of the biggest in the past few seasons. They acquired Giancarlo Stanton, former Miami Marlins’ outfielder. Stanton is a slugger; he has been considered one of the biggest power threats in the MLB since he entered the league. Stanton hit a career-high 59 home runs last season, the highest total by any player since Barry Bonds, who hit 73 dingers in 2001. Stanton had such a phenomenal season that he took home NL MVP honors.

       The Yankees had to give up someone in the deal: second-baseman Starlin Castro, who had been a productive hitter for them. Castro was the fastest player to achieve 1,000 hits in a career, which is a great achievement considering all the great hitters that have played. The Yankees also gave away minor league prospects RHP Jorge Guzman and IF Jose Devers. Neither Guzman nor Devers were at the top of the Yankees’ farm system, so the trade was seen as a steal for the Yankees, as they didn’t have to give a lot of their future to get the National League MVP in Stanton.

        Stanton will now enhance a Yankee lineup that generated the most home runs in the league last year without him on the team. The Yankees were led by rookie Aaron Judge, who slugged home 52 home runs, the most by a rookie in a single season ever. Judge was an MVP candidate and is bound to have another fantastic season.

         Gary Sanchez, going into his 3rd MLB season, slugged 33 home runs last season, the most among catchers in the entire MLB. Sanchez has always been a power threat, as he hit 20 home runs in his first MLB season in which he didn’t get nearly the amount of at-bats as he did this season.

         Other power hitters in the Yankees’ now stacked lineup include shortstop Didi Gregorius, who had the best season of his career last season when he connected for 25 home runs, first baseman Greg Bird, who struggled early in the year and went down with an injury, but turned it up near the end of the season and was a huge part of the Yankees’ postseason success and their run that nearly got them to the World Series. Brett Gardner is another guy who has recently found some pop in his bat. Through his first 6 seasons, Gardner hit just 40 home runs, but in the last 3 seasons, Gardner has smacked 44 long balls. With the addition of Stanton, the Yankees will be adding the biggest power threat in the entire league, so they are bound to lead the league in power statistics once again.

        As per usual under the Brian Cashman administration as General Manager, the Yankees pulled off yet another great trade. They are adding Giancarlo Stanton, a fantastic hitter and one of the most recognizable names in baseball to their already stacked lineup. They now have their sights set on winning their 28th World Championship.