The New York Yankees kicked off their 2025 season with a strong start on Thursday, securing a 4-2 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Catcher Austin Wells made history by becoming the first catcher ever to hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day, while shortstop Anthony Volpe also went deep to help power the offense.
Batting eighth in the lineup, designated hitter Ben Rice—a second-year player and former 12th-round pick (363rd overall) out of Dartmouth in 2021—contributed with a base hit and a walk in three plate appearances. Rice stepped into the role as a temporary replacement for Giancarlo Stanton, who remains sidelined due to injury.
Stanton arrived at Spring Training experiencing “severe” pain in both elbows, and updates on his condition have been both discouraging and uncertain. Estimates for his return range anywhere from Memorial Day (May 26) to potentially missing the entire 2025 season. However, he has been undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy—an injection treatment that utilizes a patient’s own blood cells to accelerate healing—and, for the first time, there were reports on Thursday suggesting the treatment is beginning to show positive effects.
Who Protects Aaron Judge With Stanton Out?
Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated that Giancarlo Stanton has been making “steady improvement” and that the team has been “encouraged by the last couple of weeks.” However, Boone did not provide a specific timeline for Stanton’s return.
The 35-year-old slugger, with 429 home runs over his 15-year Major League career, has been a key presence in the heart of the Yankees’ lineup. His impact was especially significant when batting behind Aaron Judge, as pitchers were forced to throw more strikes to Judge—who hit 62 home runs in 2022 with Stanton providing protection in the order.
Can Ben Rice fill that role? Not while batting eighth. That’s why, according to media reports, longtime Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been actively exploring trade options to acquire a hitter capable of replacing Stanton’s influence in the lineup.
Earlier this week, Sara Molnick of Pinstripes Nation urged the Yankees to pursue a trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., a 2023 All-Star, as a potential solution.
White Sox Outfielder Would be ‘Appealing Asset’
Cuban-born outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who defected in 2017 at age 19, was sidelined for 54 games in 2024 due to a hip flexor strain. However, in the previous season, he showcased his power by hitting 38 home runs while posting an impressive .857 OPS. Before making his MLB debut during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Robert was ranked as the White Sox’s No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Beyond his offensive production, Robert brings speed and defensive prowess to the table. He stole 23 bases last season after swiping 20 in 2023 and won a Gold Glove as a rookie, solidifying his reputation as a true “five-tool” player.
Molnick describes Robert as an “appealing asset” due to the six-year, $50 million contract extension he signed as a rookie, which remains one of baseball’s most team-friendly deals for a player of his caliber. His contract includes $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027, with only $2 million buyout clauses, making him especially attractive to teams aiming for long-term financial flexibility.
However, acquiring Robert wouldn’t come cheap. Molnick suggests that for the Yankees to land him, they would likely need to part with three promising prospects: outfielder Everson Pereira (ranked No. 14 in the Yankees’ system), middle infielder Roderick Arias (No. 7), and right-handed pitcher Cade Smith, a sixth-round pick in 2023.
