Stanton says he has ‘no bad blood’ with Jeter

DETROIT — It doesn’t sound like Derek Jeter will even need to send a gift basket in order to mend fences with Giancarlo Stanton.

Despite their contentious dealings before Stanton was traded from Miami to New York, the Yankees’ star slugger says there’s no tension between them from his perspective.

“I don’t think there’s any crazy bad blood besides what (the media) stirred up,” Stanton said Sunday, before the Yankees and Marlins started a two-game set in The Bronx on Monday. “I mean, we were very honest with each other in our meetings — and that’s the business side of it — but there’s no bad blood on this side.”

Jeter, who went from Yankee Captain to Marlins owner, told reporters he wouldn’t come to Yankee Stadium this week to root on the opposition. “It would be an awkward situation for me to actually go to Yankee Stadium,” Jeter said. “I knew it was going to be a story one way or the other, so I might as well get out in front of it and say I’m not going.”

Jeter hasn’t been back since he got his No. 2 retired and a plaque in Monument Park last May.

“That’s entirely up to him. I don’t read into it that much,” Jeter’s old teammate and Yankees manager Aaron Boone, said. “Sure, I could see how it’s awkward. But I also understand he’s one of the greatest Yankees ever. It’s a unique situation — an (owner) of another club that’s an iconic figure with our organization.”

Regardless of how Stanton feels about how the events leading up to his blockbuster trade to New York were portrayed, it sure seemed ugly between he and Jeter. Stanton told Jeter when he took over and they met that he felt the Marlins were close to contention if they added a couple pitchers. But Jeter didn’t feel the same way, ultimately having a fire sale.

Jeter told Stanton, who had a full no-trade clause, he could pick between San Francisco or St. Louis — two teams the Marlins had come to terms on trades with — or stay in Miami and watch as all of his teammates were dealt. But Stanton had all the power — and the Marlins ultimately traded him to the Yankees for Starlin Castro and a pair of prospects. The Yankees are set to pay $265 million of the $295 million owned to him over the next decade — if he doesn’t opt out.

“This is not going to go how you guys think it will go,” Stanton told Sports Illustrated about the meeting. “I’m not going to be forced somewhere, on a deadline, just because it’s convenient for you guys. I’ve put up with enough here. Derek, I know you don’t fully understand where I’m coming from. But (GM) Mike (Hill) does. He’s been here. He can fill you in. This may not go exactly how I planned. But it’s definitely not going to go how you have planned.”

Stanton has gotten off to a slow start, and was booed during his first homestand after a pair of five-strikeout, Platinum Sombrero performances. He had three homers and an MLB-high 25 Ks through Sunday. Stanton did get six hits during the Red Sox series, so he’s starting to pick it up offensively.

As for facing the Marlins for the first time, Stanton said: “Just like any other game. It’s cool they still have a lot of guys that I’m familiar with, but I think it’ll be a little bit different when I go to Miami, rather than playing them in New York.”