Last week, the St. Louis Cardinals were one of the front-runners to land Giancarlo Stanton. New trade rumors suggest otherwise…
Less than one week ago, rumors came to the surface that Giancarlo Stanton might be on his way to St. Louis. It’s amazing how things can change in just a few days, with the slugger apparently not interested in joining the Cardinals, or Red Sox, for that matter.
Stanton has a no-trade clause written in the fine details of his contract, giving him the option to accept or veto any trades the Miami Marlins receive regarding him.
According to those initial trade rumors, here’s what the Cardinals and Marlins were discussing:
St. Louis Cardinals players to acquire
- Giancarlo Stanton
- Brad Ziegler
Miami Marlins players to acquire
- RHP Alex Reyes
- RHP Sandy Alcantara
- Right Fielder: Randal Grichuk
- Shortstop: Aledmys Diaz
Now, the fact that Stanton is not interested doesn’t mean this trade was not offered. It means, if true, that he has no interest in going to St. Louis.
Honestly, he would be crazy not to accept a deal that would send him to baseball heaven in the Arch City. The buzz during a game at Busch Stadium during the dog days of summer is off the charts.
Imagine a playoff game with Giancarlo Stanton mashing bombs into the famous grassy knoll into dead-center field — shades of David Free Game 6 in the 2011 World Series.
What a wasted opportunity, if he does, in fact, decline an invitation to St. Louis. Having that massive bat in the four-hole to go with a rising lineup would make the St. Louis Cardinals immediate contenders for 2018 and beyond.
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On a side note, Brad Ziegler returning to Missouri would not only solidify the bullpen but excite the many Missouri State University Bear’s baseballs that remember Ziegler’s dominance in college, especially during the 2003 College World Series run.
Back to Stanton, take a look at that daunting contract, which could be a blessing in disguise if the Cardinals don’t land the star.
- 2018: $25 million
- 2019: $26 million
- 2020: $26 million
- 2021: $29 million
- 2022: $29 million
- 2023: $32 million
- 2024: $32 million
- 2025: $32 million
- 2026: $29 million
- 2027: $25 million
- 2028: $25 million team option, $10 million buyout
Next: Ranking the 18 Dodgers Rookie of the Year winners
Where Giancarlo Stanton ends up, nobody knows, but whoever is lucky enough to land him will be immediate World Series contenders. Is he worth the massive contract? Yes and no. Whoever is able to snag Stanton for the Miami Marlins better win a World Series in their first few years or they won’t be crippled in payroll with most of the team’s money going into his bank account. It will be exciting to see where these trade rumors end up, with Giancarlo Stanton likely to end up anywhere but Miami.