Stanton, delivered: Big G arrives at Yanks camp

TAMPA, Fla. -- The second phase of Giancarlo Stanton's career is officially underway. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player reported for his first Spring Training as a member of the Yankees on Friday.
Having flown from the West Coast several days before the mandated report date for position players, Stanton inspected his new digs in a corner clubhouse locker at George M. Steinbrenner Field and said he would begin workouts at the team's Minor League complex.
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"I'm just getting my bearings here, getting used to everything," Stanton said. "Getting used to the city, the new field. It's time to get to work."
After eight losing seasons with the Marlins, Stanton said that he is looking forward to "a fresh start" with the Yankees, joining a team that made it within one victory of the World Series last year. Stanton said that he is eager to embrace the expectation of championship-caliber play.
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"It's huge," Stanton said. "I've never been able to experience that at this level. This is a level I've worked toward my whole life and never been able to experience that, so I'm really excited for that aspect."
The Yankees' first full-squad workout is scheduled for Monday. Stanton said that he is looking forward to suiting up alongside Aaron Judge, recently telling the American League Rookie of the Year that they should "pick each other's brains" during sessions in the batting cage.
"We're pretty much identical in terms of levers, how people pitch us, what it's like when we step into the box," Stanton said. "That knowledge of both of us is going to be huge. He's younger to the league, I've seen it a few more years than he has."
Some have compared Judge and Stanton to a modern-day Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, and Stanton acknowledged that there is "curiosity" on his part about what they will be able to do together.

That said, Stanton said he cares far more about the Yankees' win total than how many home runs the tandem will be able to muscle out of ballparks.
"In terms of living up to the expectations, that's just going to come with playing," Stanton said. "We can't worry about expectations when the main goal is to win. If our expectations help us win, then it doesn't really matter what the numbers are."
Stanton said that he has also spoken to manager Aaron Boone, who outlined his plan to have Judge and Stanton play some left field this spring.
"We talked about it," Stanton said. "I'm going to work everywhere in the outfield; not center, but both corners. Maybe a little bit of center. We're going to make it work."

Over the next six weeks, Stanton said that he plans to get to know his new teammates -- some of whom he knows from All-Star Games and the World Baseball Classic, but none closely -- and ask a lot of questions. Adjusting to New York, he said, should be part of the fun.
"It's more just getting used to a new place. That comes with it," Stanton said. "Big expectations, a bigger market, that comes with it. Just being out of my comfort zone maybe, just because I've done the same thing for 10 years straight, same Spring Training, same organization. This is all new to me and it's going to be a fun new ride."