Giancarlo Stanton Rumors: Marlins Could Ask for Yasiel Puig in Stanton Trade?

The Miami Marlins are enjoying a strong bounce-back season so far in 2014. With their win tonight, the Miami Marlins are currently sitting at 63-62, above .500 for the first time since June.

What the Marlins have done in the absence of their ace Jose Fernandez has been nothing short of spectacular. The Marlins surge has been led by MVP Candidate Giancarlo Stanton, who is in the middle of his best season as a pro.

The strong season from Stanton has not done anything to quiet the flames surrounding his name on the trade market, despite the Marlins resistance to listen to offers on their slugger. The better Stanton does, the more people will believe he will be maxing himself out of the Marlins budget.

Stanton is likely to receive a long-term extension offer from the Marlins after the season. His decision could be a major domino for the upcoming off-season, as most teams would be willing to throw their best offers on the table to try and land the slugging superstar.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald had this to say on Stanton’s market:

"According to an official who has spoken to the Marlins, the team sees at least five clubs that could put together an attractive package for Stanton, with big-league players and prospects: the Dodgers, Boston, Texas, Pittsburgh and Houston.If it reaches the point of trade discussions, expect the Marlins to ask the Dodgers about Yasiel Puig. But trade conversations haven’t happened."

While Puig would be the pie in the sky target for the Marlins in the case that they had to deal Stanton, it is just a pie in the sky scenario. Puig is not far behind Stanton in MVP-discussions this season and is the player that the Dodgers are going to be building around for the foreseeable future.

A Puig-for-Stanton deal would certainly qualify as a blockbuster, as it could potentially put both franchises in position to stay in to remain in contention for the upcoming season, but it’s a deal that I feel the Dodgers would be more reluctant to make than the Marlins.