Stanton won't participate in Home Run Derby

Even if he wins the Final Vote and lands a spot in the 2018 All-Star Game, New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton doesn't plan to take part in the Home Run Derby.

"I don't want to," Stanton told reporters Sunday, including Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. "I've done it plenty of times. Take a year off, take two years off, if I want."

Stanton, who won the Home Run Derby in 2016 and has participated in the event in three of the last four seasons, said he'd still relish the opportunity to play in another All-Star Game, however. Through 86 games, Stanton owns an .852 OPS with 21 homers and 17 doubles, and the reigning National League MVP has been particularly hot of late, hitting .301/.373/.579 since the beginning of June.

"After a slow start, I kept pushing and I still have some more to do, it would be great to be voted in,’’ Stanton said. "You have to keep fighting until you can’t. I’m not going to have the opportunity to be here forever, so that’s what I always say. As long as I can work I will try to get better. Keep pushing."

With only a week to go until the Home Run Derby, it still remains unclear who will participate in this year's event. Stanton's teammate, Aaron Judge, has already confirmed that he won't defend his title, meaning the only confirmed participant is Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper, who vowed to take part in the derby if he got voted into the All-Star Game.