Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has cleared revocable waivers, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. While it is far from clear that Stanton is going to end up being traded this month, that’s now possible. He joins a list of other veterans that are known to have made it through waivers without being claimed.
Passan also suggests there could at least be plausible scenarios where a deal comes together. He cites “at least four” teams that have engaged in some level of dialogue with Miami regarding Stanton, noting that there was enough traction with one organization that some returning prospects were discussed.
Stanton, 27, has been on an unholy tear at the plate. After swatting a dozen home runs in 25 games in July, he has launched ten more through just 13 contests in August. That run has helped restore Stanton’s standing as one of the game’s premier sluggers after a down 2016 season. Overall, he owns a .268/.359/.552 batting line with 251 home runs through nearly 4,000 trips to the plate in his eight-year career.
Of course, the question on the trade front has never really been about just how productive the hulking slugger can be. He cleared waivers, rather, due to a somewhat checkered injury history and the massive extension he signed in November of 2014. Stanton’s annual salary ramps up significantly beginning next year; all said, he’s promised $295MM through 2027 (including a buyout on an option for one more year).
That huge commitment isn’t the only complicating factor. Stanton possesses a full no-trade clause, though Passan suggests that won’t be a significant barrier. Of greater significance, perhaps, the Marlins are in the middle of a franchise sale and the massive slugger is the club’s marquee attraction with television rights fees negotiations looming.
Still, Passan argues, the Fish would be best served marketing Stanton now, while his value is ascendant. That’s certainly not a universal opinion — ESPN.com’s Buster Olney argued the opposite recently — but does seem a reasonable approach for an organization with needs that likely outstrip the available resources in the near-term.
I’m actually a little surprised, even with the injury concerns and massive contract.
I think teams would Jeff done of the money for the next few years covered because it’s hard to fit that into a budget right away.
What did I just read?
Authentic baseball gibberish.
“Howard Johnson is right!” 🙂
Thank you!
I love that line
Kind of an odd situation. The Marlins would have a hard time justifying a trade of their main attraction, without looking like the same old Marlins. That being said, 295 million dollars tied up with one player always seems like a bad deal. My guess is he stays put and the new ownership group tries to build around him. If they don’t get some pitching, he could hit 75 HRs and it wouldn’t matter.
As far as trading partners, I can’t imagine there being many suitors to pair with Miami. Few teams can afford to take on that yearly hit to their books right now.
Happ, Schwarber,Almora Jr. for Stanton
Those guys would have to pass through waivers for them to be traded and they won’t get past the first team
Hahahahahaha. LMAO at people who think Schwarber has any trade value anymore. People don’t want a 1-tool player who strikes out in half of his ABs.
He still has value. Teams aren’t going to write him off over a down season. All the numbers he put up in the minors still happened. But you’ve shown before the you’re a white sox homer and all logic gets thrown out when it comes to the cubs.
He is not that valuable
Neither was Aaron Judge this time last year.
I see. How’s Moncada working out?
@chinmusic not great but small sample size. the perk of being in a rebuild is you can be patient.
Schwarber only had 621 PA in minors
It can’t be a down year until you’ve had an up year. He’s had good weeks or months but not a good year, yet. I wouldn’t touch him with ten foot pole unless I have DH spot open for him
How much value is in a career .214 hitter with a 35% strikeout rate. Who is a defensive liability with a negative war.
Look past the great World Series….
Okay, how am I wrong?
Just another over rated cub player. The cub fans all seem to think all of there prospects are going to be superstars. Of course they always believe whatever management throws out there. They got incredibly lucky last year but the dynasty is about over before it started.
Don’t forget Javy hit .169 in half a season of at bats in 2014. Baseball is hard and it’t waaaayyyy too early to give up on Schwarbs.
And Baez still has never been an above average hitter at the MLB level. Hardly a ringing endorsement.
The major league average is 255/324/426/750. Baez is currently 272/312/498/810. Seems to be above average. On pace to hit in the low 20s in homers. Endorsement bell has rung. Didn’t cherry pick any stat line to make him look above average.
Baez has posted wRC+ of 54, 98, 94 and 98 in each of his first 4 MLB seasons. For wRC+ it is league and park adjusted and 100 is MLB average. Anything below 100 is below average, so generally speaking Baez has been about 4% worse than the average MLB hitter since the beginning of the 2015 season.
Main issue is that the Marlins are an NL team. This (and any Schwarber scuttlebutt) has much more merit to an AL team where he can DH.
that’s not how it works
Thats nothing for what stanton is hitting for right now
Stanton’s value is in large part decreased based on that ridiculous contract. Marlins will not get full value for him.
I wouldn’t trade Happ and Almora for Stanton. Stanton is overhyped! Overrated. No way Theo n Jed want to trade for him. Maybe Schwarber but not the other two
“Stanton is overhyped! Overrated … Maybe Schwarber but not the other two”
You really think Stanton is the overhyped/overrated one in this conversation?
None of them can hit all are strike out artist.Why the Cubs have SUNK
Carlos Martinez, Weaver, Wong, Fowler for Stanton and the Marlins eat $95 million of his contract.
He’s almost as good as Judge. Almost.
Haha.
There’s nowhere to trade him. Who can afford an extra $25 to $35 million a year for a corner outfielder for 10 years of the backside of his prime? Maybe the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, and Dodgers.
Yankees and Red Sox are set in the outfield; Cubs already have over $175 million in payroll and are in desperate need of starting pitching going forward; So basically you’re down to maybe the Angels and maybe the Dodgers (if they can move Puig somewhere).
Possibly the Phillies or Nats could absorb the contract too, but no way Miami trades him within the division.
He is basically untradeable and the Marlins can’t afford to just give him away either or risk terrible fan backlash. They are stuck together.
I forgot about the one wild card out there: the Chi Sox. They have definite room in their payroll and have some attractive chips to trade. If they wanted to jumpstart the rebuild, getting Stanton to pair with all of their youngsters is a good way to do it.
That would certainly be interesting. I don’t see Reinsdorf taking on the commitment though, seeing as he still has never handed out a $100mil contract… As a fan, I’d be all for it though, assuming it’s mostly a salary dump and they don’t have to give up any of their top top prospects.
The backside of his prime? The guy is still just 27. He has at least 5-6 prime years left. Granted the last 3-4 years will probably be an overpay, but it’s not like you are getting 10 sunk years here.
He made Stanton sound like Pujols. Stanton is in the start of his prime assuming he stays healthy.
That’s true, but that assumption ain’t exactly a given with his history.
It was a really dumb set of comments by the guy. How about Boston being “set” in the outfield and therefor not being a team that could acquire Stanton. Yeah, I’m sure Dave Dombroski would laugh off the idea of replacing Jackie Bradley with Giancarlo Stanton, like he wouldn’t even think about it. And that the Yankees consider both of their non-Judge outfield spots blocked by old Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks with his one good season, and Clint Frazier with his 100 PA and .750 OPS.
Why does everyone seem to forget that the St. Louis Cardinals have ALOT of money? They currently are bolstering there highest team payroll ever, they just signed the richest tv deal in baseball(20$ Billion/ FSMidwest), they overpaid for Dexter because they can- DeWitts words himself, and they offered a larger contract for David Price than the Redsox did, which is public knowledge to anyone. The Cardinals can afford anyone at this point in there storied history. To count them out on Stanton would be obsurd. Oh! And if you are about to comment on there prospects, don’t. Do your research first.
You are incorrect sir. Cards had the largest offer and the Red Sox jumped in even higher. Price even commented that he thought he was a Cardinal was out playing golf and things changed quickly…
Cardinals could also afford it easily.
I agree.. Birds could afford it..
They def have the prospects.. but I can’t seem them taking THAT much money on.. could be justified if they won a World Series tho. Cards always have a shot. Would love to see it. I wonder since the Money is so high if we wouldn’t have to start with Kelly and/or Reyes? With the way he has been hitting, you would
Probably have to throw them in both with a Piscotty/Grichuk and another high potential lower guy? That maybe an overpay, I’m just really unsure of what it would cost us. Would love to hear what people think?
Not an expert, but the way the price of contracts are on the rise, It would probably be a wise investment. I dont think you would have to give up more than a two top prospects. Maybe Miami would eat a little money. I would argue that it would cost much less right now for Stanton that it would cost to wait on a Trout, Harper or Machado.
If the Cardinals want to trade somebody on their 40 man, I think they would need to clear waivers first. This makes things more complicated.
Zero chance of any of those guys clearing waivers, except maybe grichuk
I tend to agree. I don’t think his contract is anywhere near as atrocious as people try to make it seem. If he were on the open market today, I think he’d get a very similar deal to what he has remaining. I’m not arguing whether that’d be a good or bad thing for the signing club; I’m just saying he really isn’t THAT overpaid.
A player performing at an elite level is always going to be tradable, but the fact that Stanton cleared waivers tells us not at his current cost. Also given that the player can veto any trade means the Marlins would have to discount him pretty significantly, especially if they wanted much back in return. The only real question is whether the new Marlins ownership is going into full rebuild mode. If the answer is yes, then they mark Stanton down to about $20m/year. At that price, who would not want him?
Then why did Harper clear waivers? Not worth his current contract? Just everyone knew there was zero chance of actually trading Harper, Stanton is only slightly higher than that until offseason. Then I’d say it’s much more likely
Right because in Harper’s case it was so obvious that he would be pulled back if claimed. His being on contract through only the next year is an entirely different situation than Stanton’s ten years at a premium salary.
Marlins have to be willing to eat 1/3 of the $295M still owed to Stanton, and be willing to take on a lesser bad contract. I could envision the Red Sox taking him for a package of players headlined by Rusney Castillo, who, btw, is batting .306 at Pawtucket; Mitch Moreland, for the remainder of 2017, Blake Swihart, Sam Travis, . Bryce Brentz, and pitchers Owens, Ross, Barnes and Hembree. This package would improve Miami’s roster, on the field, improve their pitching, especially in the relief corps, straighten out their accounting system of debits and credits.
Boston, on the other hand. would acquire the home run threat lacking since David Ortiz retired., at a cost of $15 M or so, per season, for the next 9 years. If Stanton stays healthy and productive, he would be had at bargain price towards the end of his current contract when he is 37. Stanton could share DH and 1B duties with Hanley Ramirez, and, occasionally play RF for the remainder of 2017, with the goal of playing 1B regularly in 2018.
This trade would allow the Red sox to clean house to create roster spots for younger talent coming up through their system, which they will have to do at season’s end, anyway. A 1:8 swap, encompassing the net expenditure of $14-15 M/season for a guy with 50 HR potential in Fenway Park seems reasonable to me. How about you?
Cards have that kinda money. Doubt they take on all of it though. But they could.
The Padres could do it. Even with his contract, their payroll would only be between 70-80m. Almost all of their starters are locked in until 2021, minus Solarte, who will be traded in the offseason or let go when his contract is up. They could swing it in a heartbeat if AJ wants to make a splash..which he has attempted before.
Cardinals certainly could use him and could easily afford him
If Stanton is about the money, no way he agrees to be traded. Florida has zero state income tax. That’s a big deal since half his games are played there.
Doesn’t matter that he plays half his games in FL he doesn’t pay taxes to the states when he is in the road. Also he can play in TX and WA and not pay taxes
RIght, but he is guaranteed 81 games at least in a tax haven by staying in FL. I suppose he could allow a trade to one of the other cities you mentioned, but I’d be surprised if they were suitors.
FWIW players do pay taxes to states in which they play road games.
A primer: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2013/04/15/pro-athlete-tax-returns-illustrate-complexities-of-u-s-tax-code/#520a52d46dbe
Dammit Jeff I was all set to sound smart and post this but by time I found the link you beat me to it – good job
I fully understand this,that’s why I said 81 games.
@fstop13 players DEFINITELY pay taxes to the states they visit. Every state tax code is written that if you earn money in that state you pay taxes to it as a nonresident. The kinds of money that these guys make, you bet they are following the letter of the law and making these guys pay taxes.
You are right I was wrong.
All good. There have been plenty of times that the sports media makes a big deal out of playing for a team in a tax free state. It still does save quite a bit on taxes, just not on your entire salary.
I’m actually a tax accountant by trade and deal with that on a MUCH smaller scale (I would love to do a pro athlete, but alas)… but I think the two biggest times that this was made public were 1. when A-rod signed his deal with Texas, states immediately told the rangers to withhold taxes… and 2. When Jeter tried to claim Florida as him home state since that’s where his house is.
Are the Cards one of the teams? They have a lot of prospects.
They could be, been a lot of chatter. Considering Stantons contract, I’m not sure the cards would not be willing to give up too much in talent. We do have a surplus of outfielders though, so it’s possible. I’d be shocked if anything happens with Stanton until the sale is finalized.
Cards are possible but only in offseason, no way he gets traded anywhere this year because any prospects would have to clear waivers and competing teams would block it. Only way is if it was a straight salary dump and if that was the case somebody would have claimed him already
I think he came out and said he is not interested in playing in the Midwest but you never know
There’s no official record of that statement being made…
I want the jays to get him so badly. Oh my god that would be amazing
Sure would. They’d have to take Tulo back in Miami though. He also has a NTC though but I’m sure he’d waive it to go to Miami.
I’m not sure how it works, so if somebody could help me it would be much appreciated. Do minor league prospects have to get past the waiver process involving a trade at this point. Thanks in advance
40 man roster players have to clear waivers.
Kinda thought so. Thanks
Can’t imagine Philadelphia isn’t one of those teams. They have 0 big money players on the books. Highest payroll guy after this year is Galvis at around $5 million. They have tons of money and prospects. Won’t happen in August, but very possible this off season.
If Miami is truly rebuilding and Jeter wants to put his stamp on things, then interdivision won’t be a problem. Best way to accelerate a rebuild is to get rid of the big $ contracts and restock the minors with prospects. That means dealing Stanton, Gordon & Ozuna to whoever gives the best in return. Division or not
“Can’t imagine Philadelphia ”
I don’t want to. Harper is so much better than Stanton it’s ridiculous.
Higher ceiling, yeah probably. “So much better it’s ridiculous”? Well the numbers don’t support that claim that he’s “ridiculously” better
Puig, Ryu, Pederson for Stanton
Doubt it. Puig’s contract isn’t what they want, and they’d be looking for more prospects, in my humble opinion.
The White Sox seem like the most likely destination. The Cardinals need a slugger more than anyone else that doesn’t have a financial situation.
Maybe I’m crazy, but the Stanton contract isn’t as much of an albatross as people make it out to be.
He’s still only 27, not already approaching the end of his prime like Pujols was when he signed his deal. The 10 remaining years (assuming he opts in) would take him only through his late 30s, as opposed to his 40s like most contracts of this magnitude.
As such, even though you’re probably looking at a little bit of dead weight at the end, it’s more likely that he’d be able to stay productive in the back end of the deal.
And I also think that with the contracts that guys like Harper are expected to get, this contract won’t be as much of an outlier.
Pujols was 32!! when he signed that crazy 10 year contract with the Angels.
Exactly, Stanton at least still has the rest of his prime will Pujols was clearly bound to approach the end of his when he signed
Calling Arte Moreno.
This is for you.
I hope the Cardinals go after Stanton, Machado, or Harper!!
Stanton can opt out after 2020. By then Harper and Machado will have signed their massive contracts and Trout may be signing another one too. Stanton would only be 30 and I would imagine he would get more than 7 years 200 mm (which is what would be left at the time).
Seattle should trade for Stanton, then shed some payroll by trading Cruz or possibly cano and get some pitching. that lineup would be terrifying with Stanton in it! might even bring a few fans back to safeco. and like Florida, he wouldn’t have to pay taxes in Seattle. I bet he would wave the Claus too, because i doubt he wants to stick around for the rebuild if that’s what they decide they want to do.
I don’t see Marlins dealing Stanton at all: they can’t justify trading him unless they get ridiculously good package back, and there’s no guarantee even that would be a “win” (e.g. the Cabrera trade way back when). That’s esp true now that there’s the new ownership group, who probably will not want to alienate the fan base by trading away their team icon just to save money as their first significant action as the new owners.
I dunno..i think new ownership would kinda want that money off the books. but that’s just me.
Opt out after 3yrs with those huge dollars makes it less appealing risk/reward to acquire. If they want legit prospects……semi-serious cash has to also come back since the agent negotiated great contract terms.
He should go to the redsoxs for three prospects
Why not four prospects?
Like^
Ya, I’m sure Stanton would love to waive his no trade clause to go to Boston and be under the microscope by the media and fans, then heavily criticized when he gets injured or struggles because of the dollars he’s owed!
Love to see him DH for Boston. Just don’t think they’d have the prospects to get him
30mm bux to DH? No way. Sawx will start to need space to sign arb eligible players soon. Betts, Bogaaerts, Ben, etc….they will go over the cap in a big way.
Taylor, Seager, Stanton, Bellinger, Turner. How about that for starting 5 lineup. Never mind I just woke up. What a dream.
Stanton and $75-100mm to Boston for Benitendi and a couple mid level prospects I bet would get it done. The fish will get a good, young, cheap, marketable player in Benitendi and the sox get the slugger they need. Stanton shifts to left field in Boston.
Call me crazy, but the Padres could do something. They have zero money on the books, prospects to burn, are up and coming, and could plug him in in LF and contend for a WC next year. Then they have waves of pitching coming up in ’18-’19…plus, the new FO has proven that they’re not afraid to spend money. Guarantee you AJ is at least considering it.
OK..you’re crazy…but that would sell some seats. Maybe straight up for Brad Hand…
Piscotty, lynn, Sierra, and Weaver for Stanton
Lynn is a free agent
1. Not many teams can afford that salary.
2. If a team can afford the salary, then the Marlins shouldn’t expect some sort of great package in return.
Good luck finding the right deal, Mr. Jeter.
The Padres could. They’ve got the prospects and money to burn, plus tons of excellent pitching prospects in the minors who should be ready in the next 12-16 months.
The padres can’t afford Stanton if they want to win.
They could pay 25m a year for him, and their payroll would still only be in the 80m range because of the amount of 5yr controllable players they have on rookie deals.
When was the last time the Padres added significant payroll lol
Ohhh he is going to the phillies easily
If you were the Yankees would
You put a package together starting with Torres for him? You know what he is. The marketing alone with him and Judge would be huge and we don’t truly know what Torres will turn out to be.
every team’s spare parts and impending free agents for Stanton are making this thread beyond comical
Carson Kelly, Luke Weaver, and $25 mil/yr for Stanton
Staton to LAD.. for a package of prospects and Puig… Puig is from Cuba and would Instantly be able to replace Staton in terms of being a marketable player to the community.
Right now, he’s going nowhere. Off-season- kelly, weaver, bader, alcantara, if they eat a significant portion of contract, if not then kelly, weaver, and low a prospect
Phillies
Hmm, to the Jays for Vlad Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Anthony Alford. Three top 50 prospects. And the Jays take the entire contract on. Not going to happen, but, if Anthopoulis was still running the Jays, it wouldn’t have shocked me.
That would be horrible for the Jays
This guy would look great in a Red Sox uniform
I doubt it would happen, but it would nice to see Stanton roaming in RF in Atlanta. They have the prospects to do it, but the money would be very very tight. Braves do have more money from reworking their TV deal and the stadium though, so maybe it could be enough.
Could be interesting in the offseason
Don’t you dare!
Stanton will be traded to SF. Mark this down. They are printing money in SF, he can hit it out of any park, they sorely a top dog home run hitter so less pressure on the rest of the hitters, Cain comes off the books.
SF will not take on his contract at that price! He is not going to SF! The only teams that he could go to would be either the Yankees( who don’t mind going over the luxury tax threshold or and other team that doesn’t mind going over that threshold as well!
Diaz, Weaver, Piscotty, Grichuk for Stanton
If I was the Red Sox I’d tell Miami I’d trade Benintendi and since I will be eating the cash I’d want to do it as a straight up swap….Benintendi will probably be runner up to Aaron Judge for rookie of the year and he’s on a rookie contract
Stanton for Cespedes swap?