MLB Trade Rumors: Pittsburgh Pirates “made a significant offer” for Giancarlo Stanton

Jul 28, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) connects for a double during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

In what had to have been one of the more boring trade deadlines in recent history, the Miami Marlins decided to stand pat and not make any trades. That does not mean that the trade deadline came and went without excitement for the Marlins franchise.

The  Pittsburgh Pirates made “a significant offer” for Giancarlo Stanton, Rob Biertempfel reports:

The Pirates made repeated attempts to work a deal for Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton and made a significant offer that caught the attention of the Marlins’ front office. However, Miami’s owner did not want to shed the team’s lone star.

The Pirates have one of the better farm systems in the major leagues, so it’s very believable that they could have made an offer that would have enticed the Marlins front office. Some of the top Pirates prospects that could have been in play include  Jameson Taillon, Gregory Polanco, Alen Hanson and Tyler Glasnow. A combination of these prospects could have been packed together in an offer.”

If the offer caught the attention of the front office, it obviously had to be enticing enough for them to bring it to owner Jeffery Loria. The owner then decided to veto the trade, as he wants to keep Stanton around for the long haul.

Baseball America ranked Taillon as the 11th best prospect in baseball, Polanco 13th, and Hanson 39th. No idea if those were the three names that the Pirates offered, but if it was, that is a hell of a deal to turn down for the Fish.

The Pirates, along with the Texas Rangers, were rumored to have a strong interest in Stanton, calling the Marlins on a weekly basis to find out about his availability. The Boston Red Sox were rumored to be ready to give whatever it took for Stanton, as recently as yesterday.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington had the following to say to the Pirates media shortly after the trade deadline:

If it were not for Loria stepping in, Stanton could have been boarding a plane to Pittsburgh, instead of hitting third in the Marlins lineup today.

Who knows, maybe this will make Loria popular among fans?