Yankees Weigh DH Role for Stanton, Ben Rice

The New York Yankees are preparing for Giancarlo Stanton's return from elbow and calf injuries, with live at-bats scheduled in Tampa and a target return by the end of the month. Manager Aaron Boone has confirmed that Stanton will assume a permanent designated hitter role, ending his time as an outfielder. This move complicates the lineup, as breakout hitter Ben Rice—batting .260 with nine home runs and a .937 OPS—has become an essential offensive contributor in the DH spot. Boone has stated there are no immediate plans to move Rice to another position, such as third base. The Yankees must now find a way to balance the offensive output of Stanton, Rice, and other key figures like Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt. This challenge comes as the team seeks to maintain its lead in the AL East.