The reason the San Francisco Giants have interest in 2017 National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton is obvious.
Stanton is a transcendent power hitter who could alter the future of a franchise that finished last in baseball in home runs this season, and could instantly become the centerpiece of the Giants’ lineup for years to come.
Additionally, the Miami Marlins are apparently interested in unloading Stanton’s mammoth contract, and the Giants are one of a handful of franchises that have the pockets to take on Stanton’s deal. Still, any potential trade involving Stanton is clouded by uncertainty, because the Marlins’ slugger has a full no-trade clause.
If Stanton can turn down any deal he’s named in, should the Giants continue their pursuit of the coveted star?
According to general manager Bobby Evans, the uncertainty is worth the Giants’ time.
“The Marlins have made it clear that when they get close to a deal, then they’ll approach a player,” Evans said on MLB Network Radio Sunday. “I don’t think they would be talking to us if they didn’t think there was a good chance that something like that could get approved but they haven’t given an answer relative to that yet. Certainly, we’re very early in the process.”
Evans said that working out a trade for a player with a no-trade clause is challenging because it’s difficult to gauge whether a player would be open to a deal until two franchises have finalized details of a swap.
“With a move like that, I think that this process, typically when we’re dealing with Miami or any other club, any player with a no-trade, you really don’t get clarity on that until you get closer to a deal so we don’t have any indication at this point from the Marlins as to what their expectations are,” Evans said.
#Giants GM Bobby Evans: #Marlins have made it clear they will not approach Giancarlo Stanton until a deal is close.
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— MLB Network Radio Sirius 209, XM 89 (@MLBNetworkRadio) November 19, 2017