TAMPA — If Giancarlo Stanton obliterated the all-time home run record as a member of the 2017 Astros, he believes it would have been deleted from history thanks to the sign-stealing saga that hovers above the game.
Talking Wednesday before the Yankees’ second full-squad workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field about the Astros’ using electronics to help them win their first and only World Series, Stanton emphasized how big of a help it is to know what pitch is coming.
“If I knew what was coming in ’17, I probably would have hit 80 home runs,’’ said Stanton who swatted 59 homers, drove in 132 runs, posted a 1.007 OPS and won the NL MVP award with the Marlins that season. “If I set the record with that team, there is no way it would be upheld.’’
When asked to comment on Astros owner Jim Crane saying he didn’t know how much of an advantage the sign-stealing operation provided his club, Stanton said with a grin, “He should.’’
Following in the footsteps of Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge, Stanton said he believes the Astros didn’t stop cheating in 2019, when they ousted the Yankees from the ALCS on Jose Altuve’s game-winning home run off Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth of Game 6 at Minute Maid Park. MLB’s investigation revealed the Astros cheated in 2017 and 2018.
“I don’t think you really stop until you get caught,’’ Stanton said. “I don’t think they stopped.’’
As Judge did on Tuesday, Stanton said commissioner Rob Manfred should have punished the Astros players involved in the scheme.
“I don’t think the punishments were harsh enough player-wise,’’ Stanton said. “At the end of the day it gives more incentive to [cheat].’’
Stanton wasn’t with the Yankees in 2017 when the Astros beat them in Game 7 of the ALCS before going on to beat the Dodgers in the World Series.
Still, he had a problem with the way the Astros’ players reacted when the results of MLB’s investigation were announced.
“I think they did a very poor job of bringing their side to it. They didn’t have a problem being in front of the cameras and enjoying all the lights when they were doing it in ’17,’’ Stanton said. “Now they have to explain themselves and point fingers and own up to it.’’
Stanton said the Astros should be stripped of their 2017 title.
“They did their investigation and it was clear-cut that they cheated that year, which means it should be taken away,’’ Stanton said. “If you cheat in another way [failing a drug test] you can’t even be in the playoffs.’’
Prior to answering questions about the Astros, Stanton talked about his offseason, which was dominated by rehabbing a right quad injury that limited him to 18 regular-season games.
“I had two days off after the season,’’ said Stanton, who went on the injured list for a second time in late June with a sprained right knee and returned on Sept. 18. He was also on the shelf in early April with a strained left biceps. He returned on June 18 and landed back on the IL eight days later. “I had a full offseason. I did everything I needed to do.’’
What Stanton, 30, needs to do for the Yankees this season is stay off the IL and at least deliver the 34 homers and 100 RBIs he did in 2018, his first season with the club. Following this season, Stanton can opt out of the final seven years of his contract that has $218 million ($31.1 million per) remaining.
“No limitations, just be smart with the workload,’’ said Stanton, who added DH or left field is fine for him. “Whatever works best for the team.’’