Stanton is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Aaron Judge will get a turn at designated hitter in place of Stanton, who manager Aaron Boone said is receiving a routine rest day, per Marly Rivera of ESPN.com. According to Rivera, Boone indicated that he hopes to avoid playing Stanton in five games in a row early on during the season, and the skipper viewed Sunday's contest as a good opportunity to build in a breather for the slugger. Stanton, who is expected to start in all three games of the Yankees' upcoming series with Baltimore, went 0-for-8 with two walks and three strikeouts over the team's first two contests of the season.

Stanton is no longer expected to spend any time in the outfield during spring training, though he still expects to log some time there during the regular season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stanton had previously expressed a desire and expectation to get some defensive reps this spring, but manager Aaron Boone has been noncommittal about that prospect, and it now appears that the team has no plans to allow the slugger to risk injury by playing the field in Grapefruit League games. Despite Stanton's clear interest in playing defense at some point in the campaign, it wouldn't be surprising if he's limited strictly to DH duties this year.

Stanton indicated Wednesday that he plans to spend some time playing in the outfield before the end of spring training, Max Goodman of Sports Illustrated reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stanton has been tabbed the Yankees' everyday DH for the coming campaign, but the veteran nonetheless hopes to get a chance to play the field during Grapefruit League play. Manager Aaron Boone was noncommittal when discussing such a scenario, saying that those discussions have yet to take place and that Stanton could "possibly" get some outfield reps. Given the slugger's recent injury history, it wouldn't be surprising for the organization to play it safe in spite of Stanton's wishes.

Stanton won't play in his first spring training game until at least Wednesday against Toronto, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stanton is healthy entering the start of exhibition play, but the team is opting to hold him out for the time being. He could debut Wednesday night against the Blue Jays, though he'll likely continue to be eased into action over the course of the spring. Stanton is projected to primarily function as the team's DH this season due largely to an injury history that has limited him to only 41 games over the past two seasons.

Stanton could still play some outfield this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

General manager Brian Cashman suggested in October that Stanton would be purely a designated hitter going forward, but the team may be changing plans. Stanton's constant health issues mean the designated hitter role would seem to suit him well, though he's graded out as a decent outfielder over the course of his career, and manager Aaron Boone suggested Tuesday that playing the outfield occasionally could help him stay in shape. Stanton won't be outfield-eligible in standard setups to open the season, as he didn't play the field a single time last year, but it sounds as though there's at least a chance he picks up eligibility midseason in some leagues.

Stanton has scaled back his weightlifting this offseason in an effort to stay healthy, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stanton has spent a combined 202 days on the injured last combined across the last two seasons with knee and hamstring injuries. While the shift in offseason work may not change Stanton's ability stay healthy, it's encouraging that both he and the Yankees' training staff are looking for different ways to help him remain on the field. Even with the recent frustrating campaigns, Stanton flashed his power upside during the Yankees' 2020 postseason run by slugging six home runs in only 31 plate appearances.

General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that the Yankees are viewing Stanton primarily as a DH-only player heading into 2021, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

EDGE Analysis

During his first three years in New York, Stanton has already spent most of his time at DH, logging only 85 starts in the outfield over that stretch. Heading into 2020, the Yankees eyed Stanton for full-time DH duty after he was slowed by a calf injury in spring training, but even that wasn't enough to keep the slugger healthy throughout the campaign. Due to a hamstring injury, Stanton only played in 23 of the team's 60 games, slashing .250/.387/.500 in 93 plate appearances. He at least finished the team's postseason run at full strength, but the Yankees apparently don't envision a healthy Stanton being a factor in the outfield in 2021 outside of an emergency basis. Since all 23 of his starts came at DH in 2020, Stanton will only be eligible as a utility player in most fantasy leagues next season, and he may not regain outfield eligibility at any point if Cashman's word holds true.

Stanton went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's Game 3 loss to Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran slugger took Shane McClanahan deep during the eighth inning and has now homer in all five postseason games this year. Stanton is 7-for-19 with six home runs, 13 RBI and three walks in the playoffs, and he may need to extend the streak further Thursday to continue the season with the Yankees facing elimination in Game 4.

Stanton went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and four RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the ALDS.

EDGE Analysis

Stanton cranked a solo home run in the second inning and a three-run home in the fourth inning off Tyler Glasnow. The 30-year-old launched his second home run of the night, hitting the ball a staggering 458 feet to put the Yankees within one. The slugger will look to continue his impressive postseason in Game 3 of the ALDS.

Stanton went 1-for-4 with a walk and a grand slam Monday in a win over the Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS.

EDGE Analysis

The Rays were able to hang around for most of the night against Gerrit Cole and company, but Stanton ended any hope of a comeback in the top of the ninth with his grand slam, turning a 5-3 game into a 9-3 game. Stanton once again missed time due to injury and he struggled to close out the regular season. However, he is still one of the top power threats in the game and that power is a luxury in the five hole behind DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Luke Voit in the batting order.