Well, a Giancarlo Stanton deal got done. And the Cubs were no where in the neighborhood.
The Yankees made a fantastic deal to acquire the power hitting MVP.
Yahoo Sports summarizes the deal: The Marlins will receive veteran second baseman Starlin Castro, Yankees No. 9 minor league prospect, right-hander Jorge Guzman and infielder Jose Devers in exchange for Stanton and approximately $30 million. The New York Post reports the $30 million will only be paid out in full if Stanton elects not to
opt out after the 2020 season. The Yankees will absorb the remaining
$265 million left on his contract.
With the price break the Yankees are getting in the deal, it is likely the Yankees will be able to avoid going over the luxury
tax threshold in 2018. After offloading Castro’s $7.57 million salary
and taking into account the $25 million Stanton is due next season, the
club is looking at a payroll increase of just under $17.5 million. The $30 million the Yankees receive from Miami will be
paid out in $3 million installments to help offset the luxury tax restrictions each year.
Pitcher Guzman is expected to break into the big leagues as soon as 2019.
The 21-year-old pitched exclusively out of the rotation for Low-A Staten
Island last season with a 5-3 record in 13 starts and a
2.30 ERA, 2.4 BB/9 and 11.9 SO/9 through 66 2/3 innings.
Devers, 18, was also included in the deal. The
shortstop/DH made his first foray into pro ball in 2017, slashing a
combined .245/.336/.342 with 13 extra-base hits and 16 stolen bases in
216 PA for the Yankees’ rookie-level affiliates in the Gulf Coast League
and Dominican Summer League.
The Marlins were desperate to unload Stanton's contract and the Yankees got a bargain fire-sale price for the one of the best hitters in baseball.
As I said previously, it would not have taken much to get Stanton on the Cubs roster. And Stanton would have solved a major problem in the Cubs everyday lineup: consistent hitting for average and power.
The Marlins only received a starting second baseman, the Yankees fifth best pitching prospect, and a low level minor leaguer. Miami also lost a great deal of production: Castro hit .300, 16 HR, 63 RBI with a 2.0 WAR as compared to Stanton's .281 BA, 59 HR, 132 RBI and 7.6 WAR.
Look at this way: would you trade Javy Baez, No. 4 prospect SP Alex Lange and a low Class A minor leaguer for Stanton?
Of course you would. That is the basic cost the Marlins were looking to take to get rid of Stanton. So I am surprised that the Cubs were not a factor in the Stanton trade discussions. Yankees GM Cashman made the deal of the year.
