Stanton to meet Marlins owners after playoffs
Giancarlo Stanton still hasn’t met with the Miami Marlins’ new leadership, including Derek Jeter, amid speculation the team will unload its most expensive player to cut payroll.
Stanton said he expects to meet with ownership after the World Series. He was in Los Angeles before Game 2 between the Houston Astros and L.A. Dodgers on Wednesday night to accept the Hank Aaron Award as the National League’s top offensive performer.
He is due to make US$25 million next season in the fourth year of a $325-million, 13-year deal. His pay jumps considerably in years nine through 11, when he is set to earn $32 million a season.
By trading Stanton, the Marlins could cut their biggest expenditure. Otherwise, the club could rebuild around the 27-year-old outfielder.
Asked if he has a gut feeling on his future, Stanton said, “I don’t know, to be honest. I’ve had thoughts on both sides, but I don’t know any specifics.”
If the new owners want to reduce payroll, Stanton said he doesn’t know whether he would want to remain or go to another team with a chance to win sooner.
“I’ll figure out those plans and the specifics when we get there,” he said. “I don’t have stamped-out ideas for that.”
Stanton is from the Los Angeles suburb of Panorama City, and has been a frequent visitor to Dodger Stadium over the years. He received the Aaron award on the field before the game.
“Just to have my friends and family that are here, being able to watch, we came to watch games here together,” he said. “Now they’re watching me get this, it’s pretty cool.”
PEDROIA TO MISS SEVEN MONTHS AFTER SURGERY
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is expected to miss more than a month of the 2018 season after left knee surgery. The team said Wednesday that Pedroia had surgery to restore the cartilage in his left knee. The Red Sox say he will return to games in seven months, which would put him back in the lineup in late May.
The 2007 AL Rookie of the Year and the AL MVP in his second season, Pedroia played in just 105 games last season. He batted .293 with seven homers and 62 RBI.
GAME 1 WORLD SERIES RATINGS DOWN
Viewers for the World Series opener dropped 21 per cent from last year. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night was seen by an average of 15,458,000 viewers, according to Fox. That includes 14.97 million on Fox, 348,000 on Fox Deportes and an average of 140,000 who streamed the game on FSGO.
Cleveland’s 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs last year was viewed by an average of 19,786,000 on the three outlets, including 19.4 million on Fox, 297,000 viewers on Fox Deportes and 121,000 who streamed.
Last year’s opener was the mostwatched since 2004. This year’s was the second-most-watched since 2010.
The heat is still on at the World
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Series. The mercury hit 38 C for the second straight day Wednesday.
The temperature at the start of Game 1 on Tuesday was 39.5 C, making it the hottest World Series game ever.
Lance McCullers Jr. will start
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Game 3 of the World Series for the Houston Astros on Friday and Charlie Morton will open Game 4.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch held off announcing the order of his rotation until Wednesday.
McCullers did not get a decision in his one post-season start, when he allowed one run over six innings in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series at Yankee Stadium. He gave up two runs over three innings of relief in Game 3 of the Division Series at Boston, and he followed Morton with four scoreless innings to finish Game 7 against the Yankees last Saturday, when he finished with 24 consecutive breaking pitches.
“It opens up Lance a little more in Game 6 and 7, if we can get that far, and if we don’t clinch before that or if they don’t clinch before that,” Hinch said.
Morton is 1-1 in three post-season starts this year, allowing nine runs and 15 hits in 13 innings.
Yu Darvish starts Game 3 for the Dodgers and Alex Wood goes in Game 4.
I don’t know, to be honest. I’ve had thoughts on both sides, but I don’t know any specifics.
GIANCARLO STANTON, on future with Marlins