Giancarlo Stanton: Will the Marlins’ Slugger Be Hitting for St. Louis or Boston in the Spring?

This MLB offseason is not set up to be particularly interesting, since most of the really big names don’t hit free agency until after the 2018 season. JD Martinez headlines this year’s crop of players expected to change uniforms, and I certainly wouldn’t classify him as a franchise-changing player. With very limited free agent options for teams to choose from as they try to improve, this offseason will likely be defined by trades – and potentially a blockbuster one. As most baseball fans have heard, Giancarlo Stanton’s name has been mentioned as a trade target for many teams, and frankly I would be shocked if he doesn’t get traded. Derek Jeter, the new Marlins’ owner, needs to position his team for success in the future. For a team that has been stuck in mediocrity for the past decade and needs roster depth, what better way to start that process than to shed the suffocating $295 million he is owed ($25 million per year, $150k per game)? Get some cap space and acquire some young talented players to round out your roster, while the team on the receiving end gets a superstar in his prime and someone who can be penciled in for 40 homers a year – it makes perfect sense.

With a player like Stanton potentially available, every team will likely make at least an obligatory phone call to check on the price. According to reports, there are a limited number of teams that are seriously in the hunt to get Stanton – the Giants, Cardinals, Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Dodgers, and even the Cubs (Personally, I think Stanton to the Braves would be a perfect move for that franchise, but that is a whole other story.) Of the teams listed as realistic landing spots, I can narrow it down to two: the Cardinals and the Red Sox. Not to guarantee anything, but I guarantee that he will end up wearing some form of red on his uniform next year.

Why the Red Sox? The answer is simple – Dave Dombrowski. Whether you like him or not, the Sox GM usually gets who he wants. He definitely feels the pressure from the fanbase to make this team successful, which up to this point he has failed at. I can easily see him trying to make up for the past two years’ early playoff exits with this huge offseason splash. This isn’t to say that Stanton to the Red Sox wouldn’t be beneficial – he might be the exact piece they need to take a step forward in the playoffs. Nobody on that team is actually a slugger. Opposing pitchers aren’t frightened of a singular player in that lineup consistently; the Sox rely on one of their above-average players to get hot, and that is the spark in their offense until the next guy gets hot. Stanton will bring a reliable, fearsome presence in between Betts and Hanley in that lineup. His ability to provide 2-3 runs with a single swing will be greatly appreciated in an offense that struggles to string together hits in the playoffs. The Sox have plenty of assets and deep pockets to get this deal done, too. I don’t believe that anyone is off limits, except maybe Mookie Betts. Some sort of package deal with Bradley, Benintendi/Devers, and picking up a chunk of his salary would be reasonable.

Why the Cardinals? This is a team that is fading into irrelevancy. They still have talent, but are a big move or two away from getting right back up with the Cubs. Signing Stanton is well within reach financially, plus the Cardinals are loaded with those mid-level talent guys that sweeten trade deals. Like the Red Sox, he will become the centerpiece of that lineup immediately and make everyone around him better. The Cardinals need some offensive help if they want to be able to keep up with some of the powerhouse teams in the National League; relying on Randal Grichuk and Aledmys Diaz isn’t going to cut it. I could absolutely see the Cardinals signing JD Martinez, or maybe even trading for someone like Josh Donaldson. But this is a premier franchise teetering on the edge of mediocrity, and they have the ability to add the best home run hitter in the MLB – don’t expect them to hold back this offseason.

There is a noticeable absence on this list – why wouldn’t the Dodgers, who love going after big names and superstars, try to sign him? Honestly, I think they are just content with their roster right now and don’t want to shake things up too much. They were 9 innings away from winning the World Series last year and almost everyone is coming back for 2018 – they clearly have a World-Series-favorite level roster. It doesn’t seem necessary to give up some of your contributing young talent for Stanton in this situation.

Giancarlo Stanton will look good in red, the only question remaining is whether he will be hitting the ball over the Green Monster or if he will be hitting moonshots toward the Gateway Arch in centerfield.

Written by Matt Loehle