SATURDAY, 12:35am: “Serious” talks between the Yankees and Marlins have been underway for “at least a few days,” Heyman tweets. Indeed, the presence of a more desirable potential landing spot (from Stanton’s perspective) may even have dissuaded the slugger somewhat from accepting a move to the Giants or Cardinals, Heyman suggests.
FRIDAY, 11:41pm: A deal to send Stanton to New York is “close if not done,” a source tells Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter).
10:17pm: The Dodgers are also still involved on Stanton, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweets, though the Yankees are at a “more advanced stage” with their new push. Indeed, the Marlins’ discussions with other clubs are not considered serious at this point, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter).
Meanwhile, there are some competing forces at work between the Marlins and Yankees. The Marlins are “not remotely interested” in taking on underperforming contracts from the Yankees, Bob Nightengale of USA Today cautions (Twitter link). At the same time, Miami may be hoping to get something done before the Winter Meetings get underway next week, Heyman tweets, to make the move before teams begin committing significant cash elsewhere.
9:33pm: We have heard hints of this in recent days, and now there’s firm indication: the Yankees are “in play” for Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter links).
Indeed, there’s real progress between the two organizations, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports adds (Twitter links), characterizing the talks as having “significant” levels of “momentum.” But a Marlins source tells Rosenthal that there’s no deal close at present, while acknowledging the teams are indeed “talking” about a swap.
After utilizing his blanket no-trade rights to eliminate the Giants and Cardinals from contention today, the heavily-marketed Stanton is open to new bidders. But with the two most aggressive suitors out of the picture, there’s now less clarity about who’ll drive the market for one of the game’s best players. With the Fish scrambling after their initial efforts fell flat, the Yankees feel they are in a position of strength in negotiations, Passan notes.
Reports have indicated that Stanton is amenable to waiving his no-trade protection to go to the Yankees — or, instead, to the Dodgers, Cubs, and Astros. But of these teams, only New York and Los Angeles have been firmly connected to Stanton at this point. And both are said to be uninterested in assuming the full, $295MM commitment remaining on his contract.
While it has long been reported that the Dodgers have remained lurking on the edges of the Stanton market, the Yankees’ potential interest has been murkier. That’s due in no small part to the team’s reputedly firm commitment to dip below the luxury tax line this year. Whether or not it’s possible for the team to accomplish that while adding Stanton isn’t clear, but certainly it would require significant financial maneuvering. That only adds to the intrigue of the structuring of a possible trade.
If the Yankees are to add Stanton without bearing the full brunt of his salary, that’ll mean either leaving money with the Marlins or — perhaps more likely — sending some big contracts back in the deal. The Yanks are well-equipped to manage Stanton’s long-term commitment — the team has only around $150MM total committed beyond the 2018 season — but will have to be somewhat creative to get under the $197MM luxury tax bar for the coming season, which the organization hopes to do in order to re-set its luxury tax rate (which graduates depending upon how many consecutive seasons a club exceeds it).
It’s mostly speculation at this point, but there are a few obvious possibilities. Jacoby Ellsbury is owed $67MM through 2020 and has been discussed as a possibility, but his no-trade rights seem to pose a major complication. Chase Headley ($13MM through 2018) and Starlin Castro ($22MM through 2019) are among the other fairly expensive players that might conceivably be utilized to arrange a swap. Though both are currently penciled in for significant roles, Castro has indeed been discussed by the sides, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (via Twitter). Those players might also make greater sense for the Marlins since their salaries could be passed on in subsequent trades. Indeed, Castro and Headley are more likely to be involved as salary offsets than is Ellsbury, Heyman tweets. Aiding the Yankees’ flexibility in the infield is the fact that top prospect Gleyber Torres and other talented youngsters are nearing MLB readiness. Frankly, though, there are any number of permutations that one could imagine going back and forth between the teams, with other veterans on either side conceivably being involved to balance things out.
Of course, it’s also at least hypothetically possible that the Yankees will push back their luxury tax re-set date for another year. There’s much greater flexibility then than there is now. While the team has indicated it is fully committed to the limbo effort, its timeline for contention obviously ramped up with a strong 2017 season that included the emergence of Aaron Judge as a middle-of-the-order force. The thought of Judge, Stanton, and young catcher Gary Sanchez mashing long balls from the same lineup may just nudge the Yankees to make a bold move now rather than waiting for an exciting crop of free agents to hit the market next winter.
jljr222
Passan is saying significant progress has been made. I am not sure my heart can take this.
dimitriinla
It would be a dreadful defensive outfield, no (?), with both Stanton and Judge….
MB923
Judge is a pretty good defensive RFer. They can also rotate at RF and DH.
Brixton
they’ve both average-to-above average
Ry.the.Stunner
I believe Stanton had something around 10 DRS last year. That’s more than “average to above average”.
strostro
Stanton was a gold glove candidate
MB923
As was Judge. Though GG awards mean very little.
ilikebaseball 2
Its not ’98 anymore. A lot more thought goes into the GG awards now and ever since ’13 when SABR was included as part of the selection process the awards have gone to people who deserved them. Heyward won and deserved it, but Stanton is an above average defender.
dutch91701
Except Heyward won on reputation and wasn’t the best defensive RF by metrics. So maybe it is ’98 after all.
JKB 2
Why was Heyward not the best then
dutch91701
UZR, Range, etc. just take a quick look at fangraphs.
davidcoonce74
Stanton is well above-average and Judge rated as a tick above-average last season. They’re both really good athletes.
hiflew
Even if they are just average OFs, they hit a combined 110 homers last year. I think that will make up for letting 10 guys go from 1st to 3rd over the course of the season.
JKB 2
Unless some of those 10 go 1st to 3rd in the playoffs
xabial
The hot stove is cookin’
xabial
Source: Stanton from #Marlins to #Yankees is “virtually done.” Close to finish line. Hear #Marlins will get at least Starlin Castro plus good but not top prospects if completed. Again physical review can still be part of this so nothing final, but close.
twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/939414304855650304
@Joelsherman1
9m9 minutes ago
I’ve been pretty tough on you but Thanks for the update Sherman.
majorflaw
I believe you follow the Yankees, does this move make sense to you, xabial? I’d have thought the Yankees (and Nationals) were the last teams that needed to trade for a power hitting RFer.
I realize that adding Stanton to pretty much any team makes that team better. But at what cost, and how many other pieces would have to be moved around to make room for him? Not enough PAs for Stanton, Judge, Hicks, Gardner, Ellsbury and Frazier. If the Yankees get the Marlins to take Ellsbury back Cashman deserves exec of the year.
Guess they can move Judge’s Chambers over to Monument Park. While this wouldn’t be as surprising as letting Girardi go or hiring Boone it would add to this (so far) very odd offseason.
walls17
It’s going to happen in the wee hours of the night tonight. Saddle up fellas
Christian Larsen
Holy sh*t!
bigballerbrand99
He’ll be cheaper than Harper, which gives them more $ for Machado or whoever else they’d like to sign in the next year or two.
Vedder80
They won’t have more money though, because they won’t dip under the luxury tax threshold and their percentage will continue to rise. What it gives them is certainty. There is no certainty that they will get any free agents next year.
jarv275
Stanton deal is heavily backloaded and only worth $25 mil next year. If a combo of two of Headley, Castro or Gardner are included or Ellsbury on his own with prospect, it completely offsets Giancarlo for next season and gets Yanks are under 197. If NY taking all 290 mil of Stanton, Marlins can take 60-80 mil. Overall saving of 210 mil. Going to have to eat more money elsewhere AND this way they still may be able to flip those players with expiring contracts (Headley and Gardner in ’18 and Castro in ’19) much easier than a blockbuster of Stanton on his own. Marlins all about saving money and that will do it.
cjuluca
Stanton and Prado for Castro and Headley + couple low level prospects.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
The Yankees don’t need or want prado. Immediately DFA’d if he’s involved.
JKB 2
Well said Vedder80
MB923
Get it done Cash
RiverCatsFilms
Great, something else for Yankee fans to shout on Twitter about
MB923
Unfollow or mute them
jacobywankenobi 2
See that would be logical, too much to expect
sufferforsnakes
…….or don’t do Twitter at all.
Michael Chaney
That’s not an option for a millennial like me
Joe giovengo
Yea leave the twittering to Trump he says it’s fake news anyhow. Stanton is going to the Nationals for tillerman pence and a supreme Court Justice to be named in 2020
Cuso
This doesn’t pass the sniff test
dirtydan
Cuz it’s online…
Gocubsgo1986
Sounds like a leak by Jeter himself
SirMud
Agree. Dodgers trying to fleece him. Needs leverage
CompanyAssassin
Great.
Slipknot37
Have a feeling if a trade happens, miami is going to have to eat more cash than they would’ve wanted to. Curious to see if new york is going to put a lot more money on the payroll
edreed20
Wow I just don’t know who they get rid of in the outfield. I would think Clint Frazier would head to the marlins in this scenario
jimbenwal
Take on his full contract and send gardener and ellsbury to marlins with a decent prospect or two. Need to give up something to get rid of Ellsbury’s contract. Stanton, Judge, Frazier, Hicks would be the best outfield mlb ever saw
Kayrall
Lol
22222pete
Ellsbury will never agree to go to the Marlins
jimbenwal
Ok than Starlin the Marlin will go
padam
Best ever?
Belle, Lofton and Ramirez may disagree.
andremets
Bonds, van slyke, Bonilla
andremets
Or how about Ozuna, helicopters, Stanton
andremets
Yelich
Polish Hammer
Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Bob Thurman. (Santurce Cangrejeros)
KnightOfNi
Juice, Star, Juice
Orangejedi23
No wonder they are so good. Helicopters cover serious ground.
frankthetank1985
Duda, cespedes, granderson was solid! Lol
Connorsoxfan
And Betts, Benintendi, and JDM might make a push for it as well if he is signed and Bradley is moved.
floridapinstripes
They said no top prospects.
em650r
Marlins can get the Yankees players then flip them to other teams to get some prospects
jimbenwal
I said decent, not top
SundownDevil
NO….. PASS! Get under the luxury tax this season and then sign MACHADO and HARPER in the offseason! Get some bad contracts off the books and then sign TROUT after 2020.
Eric D.
Put down the pipe
imindless
Trouts not leaving, especially with what the angels have pulled off. Trout is gonna sign a 12 year 500 million dollar deal.
thughand
Yeah, in Philadelphia.
PhanaticDuck26
I dont think a 23 year old who has never thrown or hit a baseball in MLB is going to influence Trout’s decision making… coming to Philly, tho, that’s what’s gonna go down
dirtydan
After this contract is up he’s coming to philly
southi
The Yankees I believe could cut some of the payroll by sending Jacoby Ellsbury as part of the package going back to Miami. Miami could agree to cut Ellsbury if he’d agree to waive his no trade clause. He’d still get paid no matter what and then be a free agent signing with whom he desired.
Did they just update the article with this information? I didn’t recall seeing it when I initially started typing my reply. (Edit).
jekporkins
Every possible Yankee trade includes Ellsbury in some fashion. He has a no-trade clause and doesn’t want to leave – why would he want to go play the for Marlins???
You guys need to swallow and accept you’re stuck with that contract.
AllRiseForTheJudge
Why would he leave? Because he has absolutely no future with the Yankees. They’re not going to let him start, he lost that job to Hicks and as long as Judge and Gardy are on the roster, Ellsbury has no roster spot.
He doesn’t want to play for the Marlins, that’s a fact, but if Miami agrees to release him he would still get paid and then be able to sign with any team that will offer him a starting job. There’s no reason for Ells NOT to accept a trade to a team that is willing to pay him to NOT play while still allowing him to play somewhere else.
The only place that really made sense was Seattle, but they just traded for Dee Gordon so that’s out. Maybe the Angels see him as a veteran upgrade over Cole Calhoun and either trade him or shift him to a 4th OF role? Ohtani is not playing the field, he’ll DH if anything, so that’s an option.
ericl
There is no way that the Marlins will take Ellsbury’s contract. They aren’t going to take a big contract back, even if that contract is significantly less than Stanton’s. That completely goes against what they are trying to do
southi
I’m sorry but I don’t think that you actually READ what I wrote. Perhaps dying during that assault on the first deathstar dulled your comprehension. At no point did I say that Ellsbury would play for the Marlins. In fact it was quite the opposite since I said that Miami would have to agree to cut him (waive him). If Miami cut Ellsbury immediately after he was acquired then he’d still get paid and could sign with any other team of his choosing.
And if you haven’t figured it out that would also mean that New York would only pick up the difference in salary between the two players. In other words the Marlins would be offsetting part of Stanton’s with the entirety of Ellsbury salary.
Look I’m NOT saying it is likely (it ain’t even my idea), but only saying that it is possible.
em650r
Unless another team gets involved to get the Marlins those prospects and other team gets some Yankee players
yonkers22
Yeah, the Marlins are trying to SAVE money. If they waive Ellsbury, they still have to pay him.
GeoKaplan
I’m sensing you’re the one with the comprehension problems. The statement was already made that the Marlins weren’t taking back “bad contracts”, which certainly describes Ellsbury’s. And your scheme, of which you seem so proud, involves the Marlins eating the entire Ellsbury deal ($68M for next 3 years plus option buy-out) and getting no value from the player.
To put this in perspective, the amount they’d write off on Ellsbury 2018-20 is only $14M less if they just kept Stanton those same years. Stanton’s backloaded deal doesn’t go up until 2021-26, when it is variously $29M or $32M per year. If he stayed with Miami and opted out after 2020, they’d dodge the worst of it. But they want to avoid paying the next three years, too, and taking back a deal nearly as expensive as the one they have now saves them little.
Rather than make snide comments about those who disagree, maybe you might take a moment and realize Miami has apparently declined to take crappy contracts back, and cutting loose players on those crappy contracts doesn’t help the Marlins save much at all in the near term.
Joe Kerr
Lol, thanks sundown, needed that laugh. It’s a Yankees world and we all just live in it.
outinleftfield
LMFAO. No, they aren’t. The Marlins are not giving any salary relief before 2021 and the Yankees need that before they can add even a dime of salary and still stay under the luxury tax. Unless some 3rd team steps in and says we will take some of your stupid contracts off your hands, the Yankees are not a serious player for any high priced player let alone Stanton.
MB923
Well you will look foolish if/when this trade happens.
outinleftfield
Cashman said yesterday that the Yankees would definitely get under the luxury tax for 2018 and the Marlins are not willing to take on any money from 2018-2020. Since you are pretty much the only really on the ball Yankees fan, what would the Yankees do to make that a reality with those constraints?
MB923
I have not read that report about the Marlins wanting salary relief until 2021. I’ll take it as accurate , but other rumors were saying the Yankees (or Dodgers) can still offer players with expiring contracts and the Marlins will still have a lower payroll next year than they would if were to keep Stanton (and obviously a lower payroll going forward).
We will see what happens.
22222pete
Actually salary relief after 2021 is salary relief before 2021 since it reduces the AAV which is for the entirety of the contract. yankees dont have a problem paying the salary so long as they are under the LT threshold
delete
Haaaaahahahaaaaaaa
madmanTX
I can hardly wait til the Yankees payroll balloon to a billion dollars a year.
eceretti
3 team trade, stanton to yanks, ells and prospects to unknown team, mid level prospects to marlins and they get their cash relief.
Vedder80
Why would the 3rd team do that?
eceretti
Because ells would come with prospects attached. I think there could be a couple teams with open payroll willing to give him a chance at starting, while getting some good prospects
Priggs89
I actually wouldn’t be completely opposed to Hahn doing that IF it was at least 1 REALLY good prospect coming back. I don’t think Engel is the Sox future at CF, and I’m not counting on Tilson to stay healthy, so it’s not like he’d be blocking anybody for the next couple years. Like I said though, it’d have to be a hell of a prospect or two.
jordan4giants 2
Nobody wants 4 years of Ellsbury at 21mill a year.
Ken M.
Nobody wants Ells at 4 years No-Mill per year.
dynamite drop in monty
Lol
cjuluca
Ells got 3 yrs left
Pax vobiscum
Why do Yankees fans think that any team will take Ellsberry off of their hands without them taking back most of his salary. Clowns.
justinept
Detroit would be smart to do that if it brought back some really good prospects. Salary commitment is meaningless to bad teams at the start of a rebuild. They aren’t going to be short on cash because they won’t be signing any big time FA’s any time soon. Why not use that to your advantage and buy prospects? 3 good prospects for $7 mil a year? Worth it
22222pete
Drugs or something
floridapinstripes
Judge and Stanton could be the best 2 right handed bats in a lineup since Belle and Ramirez. Possibly even better.
walls17
and they still have el gary
dimitriinla
Remember Belle and Thomas? And neither of these guys is a lock for sustained success–especially Judge!
jdgoat
You’ve definitely got to wait for Judge to have a couple of more great seasons before you can make a claim like that
simschifan
Yankees going back to their old selves. Keep trying to buy rings.
MB923
Stanton’s a Free Agent?
simschifan
No but they have the money to pay him after he accepts the trade. Not every team can
MB923
Many teams can. Some just don’t want to. Like the team that is paying him presently.
AllRiseForTheJudge
Every team can afford Stanton’s contact. Most teams refuse to pay it, like the Marlins. Don’t blame the Yankees for being one of four teams he’ll accept a trade to.
And don’t act like MLB teams don’t have money. Oakland could afford his contract simply by the number of tickets and merch he’d sell, but Oakland would never do that because they insist they’re a small-market team. MLB owners are loaded, every single one of them, but even the billionaires he currently plays for don’t want his contract. If the Yankees trade for him, it’s because Stanton wants to go there.
thetruth 2
In the real world a team from NYC should always have more money then a team from say Kansas City. It’s real life and Stanton is not even a free agent.
ray_derek
In theory, every team is trying to buy rings.
eceretti
Drafting players, progressing them, and then Trading for established talent is buying rings?
MB923
It’s called being salty and he obviously is. He probably would have no problem if Stanton said Yes to the Giants or Cards. But if he goes to the Big bad evil Yankees , he’s going to come out and complain just like other Yankee haters
Similarly to how many Yankee fans complained when Ohtani turned them down. Pure bitterness.
simschifan
Giants I didn’t have a problem with, cards no.
MB923
So you’re a Cubs fan? I assume you’d have no problem with the Cubs getting him , right?
simschifan
Cubs don’t need him. They need a center fielder leadoff hitter. If it was to take him from St. Louis maybe, but otherwise no. I’d rather they try for Harper or someone else.
Adam6710
Yes, all teams are buying rings, because you’re spending money to draft, sign, develop, and trade for players to assemble a team that can win a World Series.
Teams spend money to win. Some choose to spend more. The Yanks haven’t won since 2009, and what team has the most WS titles in that time, and also tried trading for Stanton?
The Giants.
jimbenwal
Stupid Yankees! How dare they think it could actually work for the 28th time. Idiots!
Dark1150
lol, buying rings. That’s why they are trying to trade for someone, not sign them.
22222pete
They can offload an equivalent amount in salary by trading Gardner and Headley. Their payroll still goes down in 2018, not much more than the Red Sox.
qbwrecker
So the idea of signing Harper and Machado and Trout are all sexy….but are we considering the fact that you would need to resign Judge, Sanchez, Bird, Severino, and a few other that will come due while all of your high priced FA’s are in play. So you can’t have Stanton, Harper, Machado, Judge, etc……ever seen the first Billion dollar payroll…..that would be it.
MB923
Harper would make no sense if they get Stanton.
Joe Kerr
sure it would, if you have the means to sign him, you add that talent to your team every time. Stanton and Judge can play RF/DH, Harper in CF or LF. Good luck pitching through that lineup. All 3 are good defenders too.
walls17
guys the move isnt even done yet. cool your nips
simschifan
But it’s the Yankees they will throw the money there and give up a few of their best minor leaguers cause they don’t care about them anyway and then of course there is jeter.
simschifan
Not to mention they are bitter about Ohtani snubbing them
MB923
Seems to me the bitter one is you
simschifan
I hate the Yankees so maybe I am
MB923
Lol. I figured you did hate them.
simschifan
Most non yankee fans do
MB923
I’m well aware
southbeachbully
What about the last 3 years would make you think they’ll revert to the old ways?
Pablo
I can’t wait to see Stanton on the field in Miami with a triple-a team after the ship off the rest of the players with any value. 50 hrs and 60 rbis… (that’s a joke since inevitably someone on here will try to explain why he’d get more rbis than that, blah blah blah. Take a joke people!)
impapad57
It’s not the RBIs that are the problem… he might not hit 30 dingers… opposing teams will just walk him half the time.
tytomkiel
Every baseball fan should be excited about seeing Stanton and Judge in the same line up. History in the making.
ayrbhoy
Bash Bros 2.0
tytomkiel
I was thinking more like Maris and Mantle
ThePriceWasRight
bite your tongue.
tytomkiel
“If Stanton accepts trade, the Yankees could become first team to house two 50-HR sluggers since the 1961 Yankees”
Chew the facts
jekporkins
I’m excited to see what the Yankee OF defense will look like.
walls17
their defense is fine. gold glover gardner can easily move to cf. judge is good in rf, stanton is an above average fielder. they would be fine
MB923
Unless Cash somehow finds a way to get rid of Ells , I think Gardner is going in a trade. Rumors by Heyman earlier said Yankees would likely have to give up Headley and/or Gardner (+ prospects)
walls17
gardy aint going nowhere
Ken M.
They should surround YS3 in windmills to capitalize on the excess wind escaping the ballpark from all those strikeouts.
redsox 1976
DD will not sleep 2nite!!
ohiodevil 2
Yeah, has any two players combined for 500 strikeouts in a season?
quicsilver
I feel this a ploy to get other teams like the Dodgers involved, for how much I would enjoy seeing Stanton as a Yankee, it’s 2-3 years to late. I prefer to keep our minor leaguers and just hope Stanton don’t go to a Al East team.
Joe Covert
Not going to NL West and out of the AL completely. I’m good.
yukongold
Ells, Gardner, Frazier for Stanton.
Thronson5
I think this deal for Stanton to the Yankees gets done and as a Dodgers fan as much I would love to see him come to LA I’d be ok with him going to the Yankees. Just glad he isn’t going to the Cardinals or the Giants lol. And honestly as much as I would love to see him playing for the Dodgers I am not too thrilled on the idea of giving up any of our top prospects for him and paying all that money. We need another top starter and a set up man if Morrow leaves plus a left handed bat off the bench with Utley most likely not coming back.
Cabby24
over/under 385 K’s between Judge and Stanton.
cjuluca
Over under 120 homers
Adam6710
And suddenly the fans around the league call Stanton a bad player!
shane
Yeah sure why not? Must be nice.
oebrr00
Stanton will eventually say no to every club just to prove it’s his kingdom.
rtr5953
Stanton and Prado for Headley Castro possibly Ellsbury and 2 top 10 to 20 prospects is what i am hearing
Priggs89
That’s brutal for the Marlins
outinleftfield
What a crock. The Marlins are not taking on any salary before 2021. So forget about them taking on any of the Yankees trash or bad contracts.
agentx
Doubtful MIA takes Ellsbury, though the idea of them including Prado to offset some Castro and/or Headley salary is interesting.
cjuluca
Ellsbury won’t waive NTC unless he gets more $$$
whitemule70
I hate it.
sfg415sfc
It would be pretty cool to see Judge and Stanton hitting back to back. A Giants fan and a Dodgers fan respectably. Mashing HR’s for the NYY. The rich get richer. Can’t hate. Have to rise above. Huh.
melfman1
I think it’ll be a swap of Stanton for Castro (plus a 2nd tier prospect – ala Dillon Tate, Billy McKinney, etc.). Now that Stanton drew a line in the sand, the Yanks have all the leverage in this deal. Marlins save almost $15 million a year for the life of Castro’s contract… then they are free & clear of both. Yanks only add a net of $15 mill to their payroll, still making it possible to stay under the luxury cap.
Get er done Cash!
outinleftfield
Are all Yankees fans other than MB completely brain dead? Let’s make it simple for you. The ONLY reason the Marlins are even thinking about trading Stanton is salary relief in 2018. It is not about the $295 million, it’s about the $25 million in 2018. the Marlins will have a new TV contract in 2021 and contracts like Stanton’s will be no big deal after that, it’s 2018 that is the big problem. They will not be taking back ANY money in 2018. End of story.
southbeachbully
Would you agree that the Marlins shouldn’t be expecting a top 50 prospect in return then?
outinleftfield
I don’t think either the Giants or Cardinals were offering anyone much higher than #50, but Arroyo and Flaherty were rumored to be part of the offers.
Perksy
The Marlins are also in the black and losing money so they have to trade off these big pieces.
hiflew
In the black means they are making money. I think you meant in the red.
agentx
I disagree regardless of what the Marlins FO says that this is *entirely* about the $25MM in 2018.
Risk of injury within the next three seasons or any decline that would prompt Stanton to decline his opt-out has got to be at least as significant a concern or MIA.
cjuluca
Castro is an easy flip at 27 with 2yrs 24 million left on contract
hiflew
I’m sure the Mariners will trade for him and convert him into a reliever or something.
xabial
Don’t forget about the third year 2020 club option ($1M buyout)
Castro’s a better trade asset than given credit for.
simschifan
Do the mariners need a catcher? Make him a catcher
cardfan2011
You know, I really wonder how long it’ll be before an actual deal gets done
re-tweeted cleats
I thought this trade between Yankees & Marlins was viable weeks ago. In my suggested trade it wold be Stanton for Ellsbury Adams betrances and Frazier. It seems the Yankees now will not have to give as many top prospects to get this done. If this deal gets done AL east pitchers better duck and take cover.
southbeachbully
That is a horrible deal for the Yanks. Betances, Adams and Frazier? No. For the Marlins, I would think the last thing they would want is an expensive closer. That’s the easiest position to cut corners and get for the cheap. They don’t figure to have a lot of games to save in 2018.
It sounds odd to say this but if I’m Jeter I would rather have high-ceiling prospects that are 2 or 3 years away from being ready. It doesn’t make sense to bring in guys like Adams and Frazier if you’re just starting what will probably be a 3-5 year rebuild. Just when the organization starts to move towards being competitive they would be near free agency.
I don’t want a Stanton deal to happen but if I’m the Jeter I would TRY (operative word) to see if I could pry some combo of Estevan Florial, Jorge Guzman, Freicer Perez or Albert Abreu. High ceiling but a couple of years away from being mlb ready.
re-tweeted cleats
The Yankees have no need for Frazier right now and Betances is not expensive. However if Betances is not in the trade Icould see the Yankees trade Ellsbury and Betrances to LA . Ellsbury goes to the west coast and the Dodgers have one hell of a back end bullpen. Yankees get salary relief and minor league prospects.
22222pete
Gardner is the most likely guy to be moved. They could also move D-Rob. Neither have to be a guy they deal to the Marlins who will be after prospects, and the more money the Yankees want them to eat the better the prospects need to be
Jo Daddy
And Marlins deny trade in spite of Stanton. lol I prefer him to head to the Yanks, but if the Dodgers get him, it makes a contract for Kershaw more interesting.
rycm131
Can the Yankees include Arods contract in the deal?
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Arods deal is dead. They are off the hook for it. They fired him last year. It’s like 75+mill off the books when they bought him out for like 15 mil
jimbenwal
They didn’t buy him out, they paid him his final year, every dime of it. 21 mil was all he was owed. Now his contract is over.
simschifan
That contract is done
agentx
Bobby Bonilla’s contract with the Mets is another story.
southbeachbully
I don’t see this happening. Despite what others think, I’d rather not have two high strikeout guys like Judge and Stanton. Plus, I don’t think acquiring another big bat at OF/DH is the best use of prospects or money. There would have to be something else coming and I do not mean Martin Prado.
antsmith7
I’d rather have Harper than Stanton. Unless they plan on still getting Harper next year…
cjuluca
Harper at $500million?
philsphan1979
I know this sounds crazy but the Marlins are going to ask for Judge because he’s cheaper and more controllable. They can even be creative and say to the Yanks “look, well even take 40-50 mil off the top. I’m telling you, no way in way in hell will Stanton and judge be on the same team. Just the thought of that makes me shake in my boots. Not only would feel bad for the AL east but I would feel bad for the entire MLB
PhanaticDuck26
not a yankees fan but I think it would be pretty awesome to see those two in the same lineup… or if he goes to LA Dodgers, damn that would be a stacked lineup there also
bravos14
I’d like to see him go to LA or NY for no other reason than to put Mad Dog Russo in his place, all week long he whines about Stanton not accepting the SF offer and how LA and NY doesn’t want him, blah, blah, blah.
Stanton signed a contract, a no-trade contract, he’s got the power not the Marlins and definitely not Chris Russo.
southbeachbully
No way would the Yanks include Judge in a trade for anyone, let alone Stanton. He’s Stanton without the big contract. Why would the Yanks do that? I think the Marlins are smart enough to know better,
jdolan74
I feel like it would take a couple of Clint Frazier, Gleybar Torres, Chance Adams, Estevan Florial and Justus Sheffield to get this done, but definitely worth it for the Yankees.
CF Brett Gardner
DH Jacoby Ellsbury
RF Aaron Judge
LF Giancarlo Stanton
C Gary Sanchez
SS Didi Gregarious
1B Greg Bird
2B Starlin Castro
3B Chase Headley
ROTATION: Tanaka, Severino, Gray, Sabathia, Montgomery
BULLPEN: Chapman, Betances, Robertson
That would be a pretty sick team.
matthew102402
If C.C. resigns. Also, what about Aaron Hicks? I’d assume that Ellsbury would definitely not start over Aaron Hicks.
driftcat28 2
Wow, this might happen. Incredible
kaido24
i hope the Dodgers get him between those two teams.
Perksy
I do too, and I’m a Yankee fan.
ericl
This doesn’t mean that a deal will happen. If the Marlins aren’t willing to take back a bad contract, it makes it very difficult for this trade to happen. The Yankees are already paying Ellsbury a ton of money to be a 4th outfielder (and the Marlins aren’t taking his contract). The Marlins are also not taking back Headley or anyone else of that ilk. So, how do the Yankees make the trade work? The Steinbrenner kids don’t spend money like their father did. George would just make the trade no questions asked. The kids don’t operate that way. The Yankees would have to find someone else to take some of their bad contracts to get this trade done & I’m not sure who would take those contracts. This is still a long shot at the moment unless the Yankees decide to go back to just spending money like crazy
neworleanstaints
Good for Stanton, I hope he gets what he wants. He deserves it.
southbeachbully
I would be shocked if any team is asked to give up a prospect listed on anyone top 75 list. For the Yanks that should mean no Torres, Adams, Sheffield or Andujar. That still leaves a lot of well regarded prospects in Abrue, Guzman and Estrada and quite a few guys who might end up on mid-season lists but not really household names yet (Solak, Perez, Gilliam, Gittens).. It doesn’t mean the Marlins would accept trash, just guys in a system so deep that they aren’t on the top 100 lists yet.
outinleftfield
Would you consider Arroyo, Flaherty, or Alcantara “on anyone top 75 list”? Because they were some of the rumored pieces by the Giants and Cardinals.
dark vengeance
Doesn’t Stanton still have a opt-out in his contract? So if he hits stays healthy for three years he opts out and signs another large contract. Does it make sense for any team to take on his contract with that intact and give anything up? He could try out say New York and if he doesn’t like it opt out and if the Yankees gave up anything good it might turn out to be a losing proposition.
Jcant
Even if he stays healthy, he might not be confident he’ll get the same 7 years 200+ million. The contract was severely backloaded because the idea was he would opt out, but it’s definitely not a safe bet
outinleftfield
Stanton opting out after 3 years is the best case scenario for any team that trades for him. He provides incredible surplus value for 2018-2020. It is after that when his performance is declining that the contract is somewhat onerous. So if they get 3 years of his prime years for $77 million and then he plays well enough that he chooses to opt out and they aren’t on the hook for ages 31-37 and $218 million they will be doing backflips of joy.
PhanaticDuck26
yes, exactly. nice post.
steelcitybucc0s
The Twin Towers
Hopefully LAD gets Stanton
leftcoaster
Seager, Turner, Bellinger…….Stanton. That doesn’t suck.
Perksy
That’s a horrible deal for the Dodgers that would never happen.
driftcat28 2
I think he means that would be the lineup, not what they’re giving up
leftcoaster
Yes, I meant that would be quite a murderers row. I wouldn’t trade the Marlins anything if I had to assume all of Stanton’s contract, much less those studs.
Bruin1012
All you Yankee fans who think Ellsbury is going to the Marlins he has a “ full no trade clause” why would he agree to go to Miami that’s even if the Marlins would accept him. There is no way Ellsbury is included in a trade. The only way that happens if a third team gets involved that Ellsbury would be willing to go to. Good luck finding that third team. The Yankees are stuck with Ellsbury which means that unless they want to go over the luxury tax again there will be no Stanton.
HarveyD82
aaron Boone to Santa : “id like Giancarlo Stanton”
MB923
Watch a trade get done and then Stanton vetoes it. Lol.
Perksy
Well I think that did happen with the cardinals and Giants.
MB923
I meant with the Yankees
corey5kersh22
If the yankees are trying to dump Castro and headley, the dodgers should offer Forsythe and Ryu. Marlins get a good 4/5 starter and a good second baseman (replace Dee Gordon) whose contracts are up after the season. Dodgers just move ct3 to second base…
PhanaticDuck26
can the Dodgers really afford Stanton and a new contract for Kershaw next year? Well, im sure they can but damn thats a lot of cash for only two players
Perksy
I hope this trade doesn’t happen. It’s puts the Yanks right back where they were a few years ago with all this money tied up and unable to have flexibility. They should just stick with the plan as they have so many young players coming up and the current ones improving. Ellsbury has 3 years left they can always stick it out or eat the salary. Better than being stuck for 10 years wi Stanton.
Jcant
It’s not unreasonable to think Stanton will opt out after 2020
Jcant
Is there any reason to think Aaron Judge will be any good next year?
Joe Kerr
You need to go in a corner and think about what you just said.
Jcant
What? Bad second half until he picked it up at the end, but was still inconsistent. Off-season surgery, not the best minor league resume. Steamer projects him at 4.0 WAR, which while pretty good, Judge has never shown an ability to be an above average player
Cam
4 WAR in the corner outfield is comfortably above average. Saying he hasn’t shown the ability to is ridiculous – you literally just saw an above average season.
Cam
In fact, he just put up an 8 WAR season. As a rookie. Sort it out mate
Joe Kerr
2nd in mvp voting not good enough huh. unreal. btw a WAR of 4.0 is all star level.
Jcant
I didn’t mean it like that. I meant Judge was either the best player in the league, or a replacement level at best (mostly due to obp). I’m saying it’s hard to really project him, so while that 4 is based on what his median would be (I guess?), he hasn’t shown he isn’t completely boom or bust, and over time with most players that becomes just bust
NicTaylor
As a Sox fan I don’t want to see this happen… but, that contract will cripple the yanks with the luxury tax they’re trying to get under. As a baseball fan, those two in the same uni in that ballpark would be a sight to see. But, lol, why would the Marlins want Headley in return?!!!?
driftcat28 2
Chances are the Yanks send Headley and/or Castro to MIA. Those two contracts offset Stantons in 2018. Therefore they’re basically in the same place they were in before Stanton and can still rest the luxury tax. Still leaves room to get a pitcher like CC
NicTaylor
Ah, so they want him as a contract more than a player…
driftcat28 2
More like MIA is desperate to shed salary and have been backed into a corner. Taking on Headley/Castro/Ellsbury gets the money off their books sooner
Joe Kerr
sounds like we are about to find out soon!
Thronson5
Sounds like a done deal. Happy for the guy. Congrats to him for getting away from that rebuilding team and playing for a such a storied franchise like the Yankees and congrats to the Yankees fans for getting a beast like Stanton. Wish we could’ve brought him him to LA but overall I think this is the best case scenario for everyone. Dodgers have many other needs.
card collector18
I love this comment
Del Boca Vista
“That’s fantastic! Keep those muscles loosey-goosey. This could be big! Big Stein’s onto something! I smell a pennant!”
Jcant
I’d rather trade for both griffey and bonds and not have to give up that much
Del Boca Vista
That comment is gold, Jerry. Gold!
Del Boca Vista
Man, if this guy goes to NY that dork ball hawk guy is gonna snag hella Stanton homers in RF seats.
Yankster 2
Can’t go to bed until this becomes official …
simschifan
I hope you went to bed
bigmike0424
For Teams like NYY who has Dead weight contract in Jacoby to take on another contract, their going to have to trade some bad weight contract just to get under luxury tax..
hk27
I don’t see Marlins picking up much, if any, salary in a trade. Castro and Headley are interesting players, but not whom Marlins need or want. Yankees don’t have much room to spare salary wise if they take on Stanton’s contract in full. There has to be another team supplying prospects and/or absorbing the salary.. This could be interesting.
hk27
If I were a gambling person, I’d be tempted to suggest that Angels are the 3rd team in the deal, taking on Castro and/or Headley. Pure speculation, of course, but makes peculiar sense.
cjuluca
Castro flips to the Angels
Headley flips to The Giants
unathleticasian
I don’t think any of the Yankees top, top prospects are going to be headed to MIA in a deal where they are taking on Stanton’s contract. Way I see it, probably will be a deal including some combination of Castro/Headley and Ells/Gardner (to offset some salary) and a some sort of combination of prospects such as Andujar, Sheffield, Tate and Tyler Austin.
thecoffinnail
With both Stanton and Judge playing everyday there really isn’t room for Clint Frazier.. It’s going to take at least one good prospect to get Stanton and as much as I like Frazier they need to hold onto their pitching prospects like Adams, Sheffield etc. Good news is that if they get the Marlins to take Headley and Castro they will be able to resign Todd Frazier and move Torres to 2nd.. Which would give them a solid everyday lineup for years.. They will just need a backup catcher and a 4/5th starter to finish the offseason..
jkinser20
I am a diehard Cardinals fan. My best friend is a diehard Yankees fan. 3 weeks ago I wouldn’t shut up about how the Cards were getting Stanton and how they’d beat the Yankees. I now believe in karma.
Potpot106
Yankees offense would scary
baseballmanak
Patiently waiting to see who we have to give up… it’s almost 2 am…
Yankster 2
Join the club
Begamin
lmao who needs Ohtani now?
i’ll either love this trade or hate this trade depending on who goes to MIA. i dont want to see Gardner, Andujar, and Torres go.
Chris4Sale74
if Headley and/or Castro goes, Andujar & Gleyber I would imagine will be counted on next yr to get under the luxury tax. highly doubt they would be involved.
arcticvampire
I am ambivalent about this, but if we trade Headley and resign the ToddFather because of this it will be an easier pill to swallow..
ripcookies
Might be legit if they are discussing Castro. Ellsbury has made it clear he won’t waive no-trade. Let’s go cashman. Get it done.
steelerbravenation
Castro, Betances,Headley & Frazier I think would work it gets the salary relief for the Yankees and it gives the Marlins a prospect plus whatever they could flip the other 3 for later on.
The Yankees can then work on trying to move Ellsbury. Andujar at 3rd & Torres at 2nd
ericl
I can see the Marlins taking Castro as part of a trade & then flipping him somewhere else. I can’t see them taking Headley. They already have Prado’s contract that they are having trouble moving. Why add another player at the same position with a big contract? Makes zero sense.
NuckBobFutting
Stanton Marlins to Yankees is “virtually done.” Close to finish line. Hear Marlins will get at least Starlin Castro plus good but not top prospects if completed. Again physical review can still be part of this so nothing final, but close.
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
Where would Stanton even play? Aaron Judge is a thing…
NuckBobFutting
I heard they would rotate Gardner, Judge, and Stanton in the corner spots
jleve618
What about that frazier guy?
xabial
Lol I live in NJ and heard on my local NY sports station, they’d first ask Judge, who’s younger, and Yankees consider the better defender or better-suited to play Yankee Stadium LF if he is comfortable moving first. They still acknowledged the chances of a trade are slim-to-none.
We won’t know for sure until the trade’s finalized. It’s at the finish line.
calamityfrancis
Must be awesome to be a big-market team in a city like New York, where you can afford players like Stanton and contend every year.
-Mets fan, wishing my Dad instead made me a Yankee fan. So sick of having bad owners, and having an irrelevant team every single year with no hope of change.
xabial
As a Yankee fan, I don’t enjoy misery of Mets fans. I empathize with them as a Knicks/Jets fan.
For me personally, The Greatest stain on the Bud Selig Era will be:
1) Not taking a stricter stance on steroids initially and
2) Not forcing Wilpons to sell Mets because of the Madoff scandal.
davidcoonce74
Well, this week ended exactly as everyone predicted, huh? With Ohtani to the Angels and Stanton to the Yankees. Now let the free-agent signings begin in earnest!
acarneglia
Judge-Stanton-Sanchez gives me chills. Easily could combine for 100 homers.
Throw in guys like Gardner, Didi, Bird, Hicks and that offense is a nightmare.
cjuluca
Judge-Stanton = 100
Boston must block this.
Goose
In the Steinbrenner kid era it would be the first time they take a page from the old man. It would put them back in the luxury tax, which they seem to have been trying to get out from under. The Yankees still need to address their pitching issues, which are the bigger problem. It would be a very scary heart of the lineup. You might have two guys hit 50+ home runs next season if it comes to fruition.
Salvatore Abbate
Headley + Castro + low level prospect for Stanton.. then go trade Clint Frazier for joe panik to fill 2b and Torres at 3rd or resign Frazier for 3b.. ellsbury won’t get traded unless we eat a lot of salary and send prospect with value back
azcm2511
Lets see….Mr. Yankee is now the owner of a failing franchise and he is going to deal his best player to his former team, nothing like the smell of collusion in the morning!
simschifan
He’s probably still on the payroll
bobbleheadguru
Stanton has POWER. Yankees will not be able to take advantage of it, because they play on a puny little softball field. His 786 feet HRs do not give him any extra runs in the Yankee Bandbox.
He would have been much better off in a real baseball stadium like ATT Park. He would have hit boats consistently like the game battleship.
Macias22
See, to me this is what sets the Dodgers apart from the Yankees. This would be the move to put LA over the top. But they wont make it. They’ll sit back and watch NY make it. Siiiiigh 🙁
Gwynning's Anal Lover
Watch this it will be a Gio for Judge and Sanchez and everyone will be like….WTF
cxcx
Frustrating constantly seeing talk about how the Yankees want to get under the luxury tax but with people never saying where they currently are in regards to it. (Especially frustrating here where Jeff makes a point of saying how much salary they have committed beyond 2018 but doesn’t bother to say how many tax dollars they have committed for this year. Just talk of being creative to under the tax last I tallied it up they were around $140m or maybe $160m…no where near $197m.
JohnChasse
I hereby announce that, should this materialize, anyone referring to Stanton and Judge together as “The Twin Towers” owes me 35 cents royalties. 🙂
mike156
Cashman…why are you even thinking about this? It’s way too much money to deal with and get under the cap, it creates roster issues, and you are giving away young talent (presumably). Last season was great—young talent emerging, and more hope in the farm.
They don’t need Stanton as much as they need solid pitching. The only way this makes sense–and it still doesn’t–if it keeps them from bidding on Machado and Harper for even more money.
cspaced25 2
1- it’s not your money, who cares. 2- you have no idea who they are giving up at this time. And 3 you’re getting one of the best hitters in the game in a lineup that already has young talent. Oh and he himself is not that old! So even if some top potential talent is traded away you are getting guaranteed talent in return!!!!
troll
this deal will be highly scrutinized by mlb. given jeter was a former yankee.
MB923
If Stanton didn’t have a NTC, he’d be a Cardinal or Giant. He had more control than anyone.
Macias22
They just officially got him.
driftcat28 2
Heyman reports a deal has been agreed upon
Coast1
Jon Heyman reports the deal is done. These writers always seem to report there are talks, then a few minutes/hours later that the talks are serious, then it’s close, and finally it’s happening. I doubt they’re getting updates like this every few minutes. I’m guessing they do this for dramatic effect.
chuck123
Big Yankee fan here but feels like ARod part 2. It sounds tempting but OF is not weak area. They should stick with their strategy. Also worried about change in team dynamic if he joins.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
A year ago, I would have said the Yankees were poised to win 3 to 5 of the next 10 WS with the new philosophy and the young core they are building.
Now?
Between hiring a guy from ESPN to run the team and reverting back into the “grab any big name player whether it makes sense or not” Yankees….I’m not sure that they will win any WS in the next ten years.
Odd off season for them. Good off season for the rest of baseball.
fatelfunnel
Jon Heyman of FanRag sports is saying deal is done. Stanton to Yankees but didn’t say what Marlins get in return.
cspaced25 2
Looks like reports are Castro is the money part of the trade going to the Marlins.
tobyharrah1977
Stanton to Yankees for Ellsbury, Gardner, and top 5 minor league prospects sounds about right
Aoe3
Im a bluejays fan, but since 2016 the yankees have been getting more exciting to watch. With the addition of Stanton im going to have another team to cheer for, great talented exciting ballclub NY has. A great GM what a rebuild wow!
simschifan
Happy for Stanton but honestly hoped he went to a team that hasn’t won 27 World Series. I was so happy the last 3 years with teams that haven’t won in awhile winning. Good luck to the Yankees next year. Must be nice to have an endless bank account. And yes I’m bitter so what.
JKB 2
@simschifan
You are overly impresses with the Yankees “27” number when the bulk of that was back in the day where winning a pennant was nothing but winning an 8 man division
How many have the Yankees won in the modern playoff format where you actually have to beat teams in a playoff format to even get to the World Series?
Adam6710
Answer: since 1995 (when the wild card and three divisions were established) the Yankees have appeared in all but 3 postseasons. They’ve appeared in 11 championship series’, won 7 pennants and 5 World Series’.
By any quantitative measure they are the most successful team of the modern era.