Target: Giancarlo Stanton, RF
Type of move: Trade
2012 stats: In 123 games, Stanton hit. 290 with a .361 on-base percentage, league-leading .608 slugging percentage, 37 home runs, 86 RBIs.
Stanton took to Twitter on Tuesday to voice his displeasure with the deal his club, the Miami Marlins, made with the Toronto Blue Jays, essentially sending everyone to the Blue Jays for a bunch of prospects.
@giancarlo818: Alright, I'm pissed off!!! Plain & Simple
Does that mean he might be demanding a trade, as he's pretty much the last big name the Marlins have on their roster after they loaded up last offseason only to fail miserably? Could be, but it probably wouldn't matter as Stanton, the 6-5, 250-pound slugger, isn't a free agent until 2017 and comes really cheap. In other words, he's a guy the Marlins will want to build their new-look franchise around after tearing down what they'd built.
Stanton would hit 50 home runs in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington every year for the next 10 years if he stays healthy. He has that kind of special power. So what would it take to even get the Marlins talking? Well, it'd probably take Jurickson Profar, who the Rangers have shown no interest in dealing, but that's something you might have to consider if you're the Rangers. So what about everyone being fair game except for Profar, which would probably be the case? What about a package including Mike Olt, Martin Perez, Leonys Martin and two or three other prospects not named Profar? That might get things cooking, but my guess is it would take Profar and other pieces to pry away Stanton.
So yeah, it's a massive long shot, but that's what makes the winter hot stove so much fun.
