Marlins Want to Add Power, Not Trade Stanton

Despite the wishful thinking of baseball fans everywhere, it appears that the Miami Marlins are not actively shopping Giancarlo Stanton at the moment. Instead, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest says he’s on a search to add power to the team’s lineup – particularly to support Stanton, not replace him.

Miami wants to add some pop to their lineup to support Giancarlo Stanton, not replace him. (Image Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE)

The desire to add some pop to the Marlins lineup comes as no surprise. Aside from Stanton, who’s topped 30+ home runs each of the past two seasons, the team is only returning a pair of players from last season who hit more than double-digit home runs – outfielders Justin Ruggiano and Logan Morrison, both of whom did so in part-time duty but who also have undefined roles heading into 2013. In fact, nearly the entire Marlins roster remains in a state of flux after the team completed the blockbuster 12-player trade with the Toronto Blue Jays just two weeks ago. Despite numerous rumblings, it’s unclear who the team has been shopping and who they’d consider moving, thus making any efforts to project their 2013 roster nearly impossible.

Miami currently has holes across the diamond, as the team’s starters seem clear at only a handful of positions right now. If the season were to begin today, it’s likely that Yunel Escobar will slide into the lineup behind Stanton. It’s a proposition that doesn’t exactly scream “intimidating” to opposing pitchers and one that the Marlins are clearly not overly thrilled about, considering the team has reportedly already started to shop Escobar around the league. Should the Marlins enter the season with no true support in place, Stanton is likely to be pitched around constantly – limiting the Marlins overall offensive success and likely further infuriating an already unhappy face of the franchise.