Giancarlo Stanton is the premier power hitter in Major League Baseball.
And the San Francisco Giants covet Stanton more than any other team.
That’s according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who reported Monday morning that of all the teams that have called the Marlins about a possible trade for Stanton, the Giants have expressed the strongest interest.
The #SFGiants, #Stlcards and #Rangers have asked: Will the #Marlins dare trade Giancarlo Stanton in the offseason? https://t.co/j6aKWDSDA4
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 28, 2017
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the Giants have strong interest in the game’s best right-handed power hitter, but it would take some financial acrobatics for San Francisco to work out a deal for the 27-year-old outfielder who already has 50 home runs and 108 RBIs this season.
Stanton is one of the most expensive players in the game, as he still has 10 years remaining on a 13-year, $325 million mega-deal signed prior to the 2015 season. Beginning in 2018, Stanton will command upward of $25 million annually, with the richest years of his contract coming between 2024-2026, when Stanton will make $32 million.
At this point, it’s unclear if the new Marlins’ ownership group that includes former Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter would be willing to trade Stanton this offseason. But for a franchise that has traditionally kept its payroll toward the bottom of the pack, the opportunity to unload Stanton could entice owners looking to start fresh.
Nightengale reported other teams that have expressed interest in Stanton include the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies.
The San Francisco Giants are dead last in home runs this season, and Stanton’s 50 are just a tad bit more than the 18 hit by Giants’ team leader Brandon Belt.