Stanton Trade May Have Been Pushed by Rocky Relationship

Hayden See, Reporter

Stanton’s rocky relationship with the Marlins’ front office could have led to trade last offseason.

The swap between the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees last offseason was one of the biggest trades in recent memory. In the deal, the New York Yankees sent second baseman Starlin Castro and two minor-leaguers to the Marlins in exchange for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. The trade occurred after months of trade rumors, with Stanton rejecting trades to the Cardinals and Giants early on in the offseason. The Dodgers were involved at one time, however they were not willing to pay Miami’s asking price.

“Miami got a horrible package back for Stanton,” junior Connor Price said.

All of the Marlins’ big trades sending star players off, Gordon, Stanton, Yelich, happened after the new ownership took over. Former Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter took over baseball operations for the team and made a slough of moves in his first offseason in control. With Miami’s budget not being high, he felt compelled to make the moves to clear salary and increase profits and commence a rebuild.

“The rebuild has gone fine for Miami so far, but the players they got back in trades could have been better,” junior Blake Haffer said.

Stanton was in the 2017 Home Run Derby held in Miami, is a four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and the Most Valuable Player in the National League in 2017. He still leads the Marlins franchise in home-runs even after his departure. In his inaugural season with the Yankees he performed 27 percent above league average.

“The Yankees robbed the Marlins,” junior Hannah Stumpf said.

The Marlins are in the middle of their rebuild, with pieces acquired in the Stanton trade being utilized.