Existential question: Could the Yankees have been better off without trading for Giancarlo?

Somewhere out there, a zillion Bud Lite years from here, exists the alt-Yankiverse where Brian Cashman spurned the Miami Marlins' flea market offer of Giancarlo Stanton, vaulting us into 2018 on an entirely different trajectory. Instead of NYC, the game's premier slugger went to the Dodgers, and we stood pat with Starlin Castro and two prospects.

Frankly, it's hard to imagine the Yankees in any universe nixing the deal. But it created a roster imbalance that has yet to correct itself. And it's time to ask a stupid question:

Would we be better off if Cashman turned his back and walked away?

By acquiring Stanton, the Empire took on his $25 million per year contract - (minus a $3 mill teaser from the Marlins and the $10 mill owed Castro.) The result: It added $12 mill to our payroll, giving Cashman a mere $22 mill to spend between now and Oct. 1. Considering the call-ups and deadline trades, he has about $15 mill in his pocket.

Had we said nope to Giancarlo, we'd have $34 mill to spend - about $28 mill in mad money.

Think of it this way: We could sign Yu Darvish, Randall Cobb, or anybody we damn well want. Instead of Gio, we'd have Yu and Castro, who could play 2B or go in a trade.

I raise this because, as great as he is, Stanton represents the third bottle opener on our 2018 Swiss Army Knife. While a guy can never have too many bottle openers, the trow does feel heavy, no? When we acquired Stanton, it wasn't so clear that we'd be lashed to Jacoby Ellsbury and his $22 mill salary for the remaining three years of the Trump Administration. We have logjams that, to clear, might require explosives.

Here's the current OF/DH situation:

Judge/Stanton/Gardy/Hicks/Ellsbury... with Clint Frazier, the people's choice, stuck in Scranton or going in a trade. 

Without Stanton, Red Thunder is our fifth OF, and the 2018 Yankees get to unwrap one of the most hyped - ("legendary bat speed!") - prospects of this millennium. Now, he's odd man out, unless we can somehow unload Ellsbury - and to do so, we'll likely get murdered in a trade. 

Here's the current infield situation:

Bird/rookie/Didi/rookie... with Cashman turning over rocks for a cheap free agent, while the Toddfather circles overhead. (My greatest fear, FWIW.)

Without Stanton, Castro plays 2B (or maybe 3B), while Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade compete for the open spot. Or we trade Castro and go with rookies at 2B and 3B. (My preference, FWIW.)

Here's the current rotation situation:

Tanaka, Sevvy, CC, Sonny, Monty... and whomever steps forward from a handful of promising young arms. Not bad, really.

But but BUT... without Stanton, we add Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, Randall Cobb or Lance Lynn, without breaking a luxury tax sweat. 

No Stanton, but a Darvish. 

No Murderer's Row, but a six-man rotation. 

No Stanton/Judge twin towers, but Red Thunder with 250 at bats and Ellsbury looming as less dead weight.

Listen: There are devils in the details here. Without the Stanton trade, we lose more prospects in the December Rule 5 draft, and maybe we don't send Chase Headley to San Diego for scrap lumber. Let me restate that... under no circumstances could Cashman have refused the deal; it was - as the Don would say - "an offer you can't refuse."

But as it stands, the deal looks like less of a slam dunk than immediately advertised. We have a Swiss Army Knife with three bottle openers, and for now, we're drinking from cans.