With the New York Yankees dealing with injuries heading into the playoffs, one player who hasn't seen the field in five months is star slugger Giancarlo Stanton. While the Yankees also hope for the playoff return of Aaron Judge, Stanton would also help in the team's offense, as manager Aaron Boone teased what the 36-year-old's role could look like in the postseason.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Boone said that Stanton has been “doing pretty well” and is “knocking on the door” regarding a return for New York, according to MLB.com. He would take live at-bats and even ran the bases after hitting a home run, as Boone said, which is good news after Stanton last played on April 24, missing significant time due to calf strains in each leg.

Regarding what Stanton's role will be like once he comes back to the team in the playoffs, Boone theorized about a “pinch-hit scenario.”

“You’re looking at more of a pinch-hit scenario,” Boone said, via MLB.com. “Obviously, we’ll see if that’s even a realistic option. I don’t know yet.”

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With three games left in the regular season for the Yankees, Stanton has only played in 24 contests for the team, recording a .256 batting average to go along with three home runs and 14 RBIs. What New York could hope for is a similar scenario to 2024, where Stanton missed a chunk of the season and returned in the playoffs to hit seven home runs in October.

Still, it isn't a for-sure outcome that Stanton will be healthy enough to return, but if there's one thing for sure, Stanton is on the “outskirts of the conversation.”

“Obviously, there will be conversations with him,” Boone said. “Does he fit on the roster, is it realistic? All those things, I can’t answer right now.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen when Stanton comes back for the Yankees, with the team starting its final series of the regular season on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles before the AL Wild Card series beginning on Tuesday.