Yankees confirm slugger Stanton as newest Bronx Bomber

[December 12, 2017]  (Reuters) - Slugger Giancarlo Stanton is officially a New York Yankee, with the Major League Baseball team confirming on Monday that they had obtained the reigning National League most valuable player in a trade with the Miami Marlins.

The Yankees introduced their prize signing at the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando on Monday, Stanton saying it was time to move on and grab a chance at winning a championship, while the Marlins undertake another round of rebuilding in Miami.

“It's going to be a great new chapter in my life and my career,’ Stanton said after donning a pinstriped No. 27 jersey.

“I'm very excited to be here and to be a part of the Yankees, and I'm just looking forward to stepping up and being with this winning environment and winning culture.”

Stanton, who led the Majors in home runs (59), runs batted in (132) and slugging percentage (.631), joins a Yankees team already boasting power at the plate with American League rookie of the year Aaron Judge, who slammed 52 homers last season.

The 28-year-old Stanton's 59 home runs were the highest total in the Majors since 2001, when San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds hit 73 and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs 64.

New Yankees manager Aaron Boone smiled broadly at the prospect of adding the home run king to his potent lineup.

“You add the National League MVP to what we feel like is already a very strong lineup, the possibilities start to run through your head of what that could look like.”

 

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) is interview by MLB network during the winter meetings at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Judge and Stanton will become only the second pair of team mates to have each hit at least 50 home runs in the previous season, joining the 1962 world champion Yankees who featured Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.

The trade also marks the second time in MLB history that a reigning MVP has been acquired via trade prior to the start of the following season.

In exchange for Stanton, who will earn $295 million over the next 10 years, the Yankees sent second baseman Starlin Castro, minor league right-handed pitcher Jorge Guzman and minor league infielder Jose Devers to the Marlins.

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto, Editing by Ed Osmond and ken Ferris)

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