MLB trade rumors: 5 potential new homes for Giancarlo Stanton
If the losing continues, the Miami Marlins may have no choice but to work out a trade of Giancarlo Stanton.
Back in 2014, outfielder Giancarlo Stanton agreed to a 13-year deal with the Miami Marlins for $325 million. The contract was the most lucrative in terms of overall value in MLB history, but came with an opt-out clause after the 2020 season. Even with a full no-trade clause, few expect Stanton to play out all 13 years with the Marlins.
The Fish have gotten off to a horrendous start in the first quarter of the regular season. Left reeling after the loss of ace Jose Fernandez, Miami’s rotation has not been able to carry the load. The 16-29 record the Marlins currently sport is tied for second-worst in baseball.
Stanton has not shied away from expressing his frustration with the organization. The Marlins have not made the playoffs since 2003 and have repeatedly failed to live up to preseason expectations.
According to Tim Healey of the Sun Sentinel in Miami, a trade of Stanton would not be unlikely, but would not come until after the season.
"“I would be surprised if they entertained it as quickly … in-season,” he said. “If the ownership thing wraps up and there’s new owners and they want to look at it in the winter, that sounds a lot more realistic if that’s the route they want to go. Whether there’d be takers, I think you’ll always have people interested in the idea of Giancarlo Stanton, whether they could make that work with the money [with] the Marlins, how much the Marlins are willing to eat on that contract, they’re going to have to eat some of it.”"
The Marlins would still find interest on the trade market for Stanton — his slugging percentage is up while his strikeouts are down. Even so, the chances that Stanton develops into a transcendent star is looking more unlikely by the year. He is not going to finish out 13 years with the Marlins, but it is only a matter of when a trade goes down. Here are five early contenders that make sense for Miami and Stanton.
5. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are still in the midst of a lengthy rebuilding process and would not jump out as the first landing spot for Giancarlo Stanton, but they have more than enough assets to work a trade with the Marlins.
Convincing Stanton to accept a trade to the second-tier Chicago franchise would be a tough but not impossible sell. With the White Sox, Stanton would have the opportunity to play in one of the biggest markets in the country and go up against Kris Bryant and the Cubs for city supremacy. The White Sox would surround him with a strong core as they continue to strip down the roster and rebuild it from the ground up.
Ultimately, though, selling Stanton on joining another team in the middle of a rebuild is probably too much to ask.