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How Aaron Boone plans to juggle an outfield with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Aaron Boone, the New York Yankees manager, has a luxury that not many rookie managers can say they have. He gets to fill out a lineup card every day that has the names Aaron Judge and the newly acquired Giancarlo Stanton.

Every rookie manager would take 111 homers, like Judge and Stanton hit last season, in their middle of their lineup. And if they wouldn’t, they’re lying.

But, as the saying goes, with great power comes with great responsibility — when it comes to filling out the lineup card, at least. Boone talked Tuesday at the Winter Meetings about how he’ll juggle the Yankees outfield. Because even though the homers are great, both Stanton and Judge primarily play right field, so this is going to take some adjustments. He doesn’t have a plan right away, but he has a plan for figuring it out.

“Obviously this has happened quick these last 48 hours with Giancarlo joining,” Boone said. “But there seems to be a lot of buy-in from these guys, and that’s going to be important because there is going to have to be some flexibility.”

Aaron Boone, manager of the New York Yankees, talks with members of the media at the MLB baseball winter meetings Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Aaron Boone, manager of the New York Yankees, talks with members of the media at the MLB baseball winter meetings Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Indeed, because the Yankees also have Aaron Hicks, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner in their outfield rotation. That’s enough even without Stanton and Judge. There’s a DH spot too, and that’s even more free with the trade of Chase Headley on Tuesday. But choices are ahead — either this offseason or when it comes to filling out the lineup card each day next season.

The Yankees, obviously, would love to have a lineup with Judge and Stanton in it every single day of the season and that’s what Boone has to figure out.

“One of the things we’ll try and flush out in Spring Training is who makes the most sense,” Boone said. “Who’s maybe the most capable of moving to a different position? I think the one thing we’re talking about with these, whether it’s Gardy, Hicksy, Jacoby, and obviously Giancarlo and Aaron Judge is, these are all two-way players. These are guys that are talented on the defensive side of the ball, but I also think it will allow us to kind of use that DH to get guys off their feet, to get kind of rest, but also keep these guys in the lineup on a regular basis depending on matchups.”

Hey, rookie managers have had worse problems.

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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!