One of Major League Baseball's most potent sluggers could soon be on the move.
According to the MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Miami Marlins have agreed in principle to the framework of trades with both the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants that would see them move Giancarlo Stanton, who is coming off an incredible season that saw him win the 2017 National League MVP.
Both deals are pending Stanton's approval. The 13-year, $325 million deal he signed with the Marlins back in 2014 came complete with a full no-trade clause, so he has to approve any deal that gets done. The player's reps have already met with the San Francisco Giants' brass and were granted permission by the Miami franchise to pursue similar conversations with the St. Louis Cardinals. Both suitors have championship pedigree and acquiring Stanton would immediately put them among the favorites to win next year's World Series.
Bleacher Report has also said that the Giants are "100 perfect" the slugger's first choice in trade scenarios, since there is some doubt that he would actually waive his no-trade to go to St. Louis. The biggest catch here may be the money aspect, with the Marlins insisting that whomever wants to grab Stanton in a trade assume responsibility for at least $250 million of the remaining $295 million that is still left on his mammoth contract.
Last season, Staton batted .281 while hitting 59 home runs and 132 RBI's. He also boasted a slugging percentage of .631 and was one of the long bright spots on a Miami team that is currently in rebuild mode.
