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
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.
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: forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2013/04/15/pro-at…
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?