PHOENIX — It is the offseason so, of course, we are talking about Giancarlo Stanton.
But rather than concocting trades that take Stanton away from Miami, the discussion surrounds how high will the Marlins go to lock up their star long-term.
Negotiations are ongoing, and Miami GM Dan Jennings told me, “There’s only one hope — we want to sign him.”
As I reported last month, the Marlins were aware and comfortable that it would take an average salary probably in the $28 million-to-$30 million range to secure arguably the foremost power hitter in the game on a long-term deal.
A veteran agent noted that when both sides are talking as openly about trying to get a pact done as the Marlins and Stanton have, the pact usually gets done. “It generally means there are good feelings on both sides and momentum,” the agent said.
There remains uncertainty if Stanton fully trusts Marlins ownership. He was critical of the sell-off following the 2012 season that, among others, sent Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle to Toronto.
In the big picture, that trade actually better positioned Miami to be a stronger team moving forward. That has become clear to Stanton. But he probably needs further comfort and likely the first no-trade clause ever given under the ownership of Jeffrey Loria.
Clearly, though, the relationship is in a good place at present between star and team.
“From Day 1 of spring training, [Stanton] took ownership of the club,” Jennings said. “He exhibited tremendous leadership qualities in the way he handled himself and how he exerted himself in the clubhouse. And, obviously, his numbers were there.”
Beyond getting Stanton signed, Jennings said the Marlins would like to either sign or trade for a veteran starter to help stabilize the rotation while ace Jose Fernandez completes his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The righty is due back in June or July.
The Marlins also would like a mid-order bat that would protect Stanton by hitting cleanup or hitting third with Stanton moving to cleanup.
Korean shortstop slugger is winter wild card
Alan Nero, the agent for Jung-ho Kang, said he anticipates the Korean slugging shortstop will be posted shortly after the December Winter Meetings and joked, “If he were Cuban, he’d get $100 million.”
Veteran Cuban stars such as Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig and now Yasmany Tomas do not have to go through a posting system, so multiple teams can bid on them at once.
In the 2014 Korean regular season, Kang hit .354 with 39 homers. Nero said Kang, who is 27, is versatile enough to play shortstop, second, third or center field.
However, executives from MLB teams have been more dubious how Kang’s power will translate in the States because the competition in Korea is inferior to even that in Japan. Plus, there was concern if Kang would be athletic enough to handle full-time play at shortstop in MLB.
Rays’ Hellickson likely NL-bound
The next significant player who could be traded is Jeremy Hellickson. The Rays are said to be involved with NL teams looking for a back-of-the-rotation piece with bounce-back potential.
Hellickson had minor arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow last January. He missed the first half of the 2014 season, and when he returned he was not very good (1-5, 4.52 ERA). That was after a 2013 in which he was 12-10 with a 5.17 ERA.
But in 2011-12, he was 23-21 with a 3.02 ERA (winning Rookie of the Year in 2011). And the righty does not turn 28 until April.
Tampa Bay is looking to slim its payroll at least at the margins, and will deal Hellickson, who made $3.625 million in 2014. They also are looking to offload an outfielder in Matt Joyce or David DeJesus.
The big Braves bats that may move
The Braves finished next-to-last in the majors in runs scored. Yet Atlanta is expected to use bats to fill what it sees as its bigger immediate need in the rotation.
Atlanta will talk Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis with teams. That trio, along with Freddie Freeman, were the only Brave hitters who had positive offensive campaigns in 2014.
It is Gattis, though, other clubs see Atlanta pushing the hardest. AL teams, in particular, could have interest because his defensive deficiencies could be masked with the DH and his righty power could be maximized.
However, the Braves anticipate losing Ervin Santana (the Royals are very interested in a reunion) and Aaron Harang and the 400 innings they supplied to free agency. They have Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy coming back from their second Tommy John surgeries, and because it is the second for each, Atlanta is still weighing whether to tender both contracts.
Thus, the Braves see their priority as filling the rotation while feeling they have to diversify their offense anyway. Atlanta feels its problem has been an all-or-nothing approach dominated by righty hitters that has left it too vulnerable.
The Braves believe because there is a weak outfield market that Heyward and Upton could garner a lot of interest. Both can be free agents after the 2015 season. However, Upton is due $14.5 million and Heyward $7.8 million next year, and both of those are reasonable-or-better figures for their production.