There will be those who immediately feel odd about this, somehow feel like Giancarlo Stanton isn't a Hall of Famer. But if the New York Yankees slugger continues on his current track, and not even for all that much longer, he's almost a no-doubt selection. It all comes down to one magic number: 500.

NEW YORK — With the way Giancarlo Stanton has been swinging the bat of late — and Aaron Judge relegated to a DH-only role as he recovers from his right flexor strain — the Yankees need to do everything they can to keep the slugger in the starting lineup.