What Can the Miami Marlins Expect in Return for Giancarlo Stanton?

Jul 31, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (right) celebrates with shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (left) after defeating the New York Mets at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The trade deadline has come and gone and the Marlins didn’t make any moves. They didn’t trade Steve Cishek, Mike Dunn, Placido Polanco, Ryan Webb, Justin Ruggiano, Chad Qualls, or Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton, of course, is the big fish on the Marlins roster. Teams have repeatedly said that they would give everything they had, just so they could get their hands on him. Over the past couple of months, we have been hearing so many rumors of teams going after Stanton, each with the same ending.

The Marlins saying no.

This year, Giancarlo is eligible for arbitration and a pay raise. The Marlins expect to sign Stanton to a multi-year contract and make him the centerpiece of the rebuilding team. However, Stanton hasn’t made any attempts to get a new contract so we won’t know until the end of the year. Although, with all the rumors it would be fun to discuss the kind of return the Marlins would get if they trade Stanton. I picked the two of the most likely destinations: Texas and Boston. I didn’t include the Pirates because Marlin Maniac already discussed the kind of offer that was presented to the Marlins at the trade deadline this year.

So lets begin.

Boston Red Sox:

The Red Sox boast one of the best farm systems in the Majors while playing in a location that suits Stanton’s abilities. If Stanton plays in Fenway, we’ll be hearing about his massive Home-Run shots on a daily basis. That would be a minor league park in terms of size because of Stanton’s raw strength. Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. are fantastic position player prospects and Allen Webster, Henry Owens, and Matt Barnes are great pitching prospects, all of whom could be packaged in a deal for Stanton. This would be a massive haul for the Marlins and if I were a GM, I’d have a tough time rejecting this kind of deal. All of the prospects mentioned above are Boston’s top five prospects and GM Ben Cherington has shown to be a willy negotiator, so this is a very optimistic idea. However, Joe Frisaro reported that the Red Sox would do anything to get Stanton from the Marlins, so this scenario may not be too far fetched.

Texas Rangers:

The Rangers are in great need of a middle of the order bat that plays in the outfield. Stanton certainly fits the bill and he has the advantage of being only 23 years old. However, the players that Marlins want are definitely younger which provides so more upside. Jurickson Profar is only 20 years old and before being promoted he was the best prospect not only in the Rangers system but in all of baseball. Profar would definitely be the ultimate prize in any deal for Stanton, as he is extremely versatile and an extremely advanced hitter at the age of 20. His potential is through the roof, but he wouldn’t be the only catch for the Marlins. There is also the top catching prospect in Jorge Alfaro and top third base prospect in Joey Gallo, which would be an excellent haul for the team. The duo of Hechavarria and Profar would solidify the infield for so many years to come, while providing excellent defense and nice pop to the bats. If the Marlins get this kind of deal, Profar could really bring this team to a new level in a couple of years. A lineup of Yelich, Marisnick, Ozuna, and Profar would strike fear into the hearts of pitchers for years to come. Also the team would be incredibly gifted on defense and in a few years they would be a strong team contending for championships on a consistent basis.

Honestly both of these deals would be excellent hauls for the type of player Giancarlo Stanton represents. I’d prefer a deal to Texas over anything else, but that’s just my opinion. I honestly think that Stanton will not sign this offseason forcing a trade with either of the teams mentioned above. The Marlins would get good value and I wouldn’t be as angry as I was with the Toronto trade last November. So whether or not the team keeps Stanton next year or beyond, the Marlins will survive. They will be a contending team in a few years.

With or without Stanton.