The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1. Stanton joins forces with Judge
Marlins trade MVP for 2B Castro and two prospects.
Former Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton joins Aaron Judge to give the New York Yankees the fourth pair of reigning home run champions on the same team — joining Hank Greenberg-Ralph Kiner (1947 Pirates), Joe Di-Maggio-Johnny Mize (1949 Yankees) and Mike Schmidt-Dick Allen (1975 Phillies).
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Now slugging for the Bronx Bombers, Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton’s trade to the New York Yankees from Miami was finalized Monday, a deal that sent second baseman Starlin Castro and two minor leaguers to the Marlins for the NL MVP.
“They’re winners,” Stanton said during a news conference on the opening day of the winter meetings. “They’re young and they’re in a good position to win for a long time, and I lost for a long time. So I want to change that dynamic and be a winner.”
He joins a team that reached Game 7 of the ALCS against Houston with a roster that includes young sluggers Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird. The Yankees expect top infield prospect Gleyber Torres to join the big league team this season.
“New York’s a marquee town, and I think it’s important to have some marquee players,” Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said.
“But more important than that, I think it’s important to have veteran players that could be mentors for the young kids.”
Stanton, a 28-year-old who like Judge plays right field, is owed $295 million over the final decade of his record $325 million, 13-year contract.
The Marlins, with former Yankees star Derek Jeter as their new CEO, will send $30 million to the Yankees if
Stanton doesn’t exercise his right to opt out of the deal and become a free agent after the 2020 season: $5 million each on July 1 and Oct. 1 in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
“I wouldn’t say sad day,” Marlins President Michael Hill said. “It’s a win-win for both sides . ... I know Giancarlo made it clear midway
through the 2017 season he didn’t want to be part of a rebuild.”
Stanton knew it was time to leave the Marlins, telling Jeter that he didn’t like the direction of the team. He thought Miami needed to add pitchers to complement its lineup, but the Marlins wanted to subtract.
“I didn’t want to be a part of another rebuild, another losing season,” Stanton explained, calling his former club a “circus.”
Stanton led the majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs last season. Judge was second in the majors with 52 homers. New York topped baseball with 241 homers
last season, and the daunting duo figures to create mustsee batting practice before games.
Stanton will keep his No. 27 jersey. His contract includes a no-trade provision, and last week he turned down prospective deals to St. Louis and San Francisco. He told the Marlins he was willing to accept trades only to the Yankees, his hometown Dodgers, the Astros and Cubs. “I would have been putting it over the hump rather than jumping into a team already prepared to be there,” he said.
Having grown up in Southern California, going to the Giants was a particular difficulty. “I wouldn’t base a decision off that, but also I wouldn’t want to go to a team that they disliked the most — and wasn’t sure if they were going to beat that team, either,” he said.
New York hasn’t had a losing record since 1992. The Marlins haven’t had a winning season since Stanton made his big league debut for them in 2010.
“He spends his Octobers in Europe,” said Stanton’s agent, Joel Wolfe. “It was killing him.”
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spoke briefly with Hill about Stanton at last month’s GM meetings but didn’t move forward, wanting to save designated hitter at-bats in case New York reached agreement with Japanese pitcher/outfielder Shohei Ohtani. But Ohtani eliminated all East Coast teams and will play for the Angels.
“Maybe Wednesday of last week I thought (the Stanton deal) was not going to happen,” Cashman said. “And then he re-engaged me Thursday,”
By Thursday night, a tentative agreement was in place. Stanton said he would approve, but Wolfe told him to sleep on it. “I told him I’m sleeping in, so if there’s some deadline just go ahead and say yeah,” Stanton said.