Stanton wins by two points

If the Marlins follow through on their apparent intentions to trade Giancarlo Stanton, they’ll have the rare distinction of dealing away a newly minted MVP. Stanton earned the award in the National League on Thursday by two points after a career season in which he belted 59 home runs, the highest total in the majors since 2001. In the fourth-closest MVP race ever, Stanton received 10 of the 30 first-place votes and had 302 points in balloting by the BBWAA. He edged out Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who also received 10 first-place votes but finished with 300 points. Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt finished third with 239 points. “I thought it was going to be close,” Stanton said. “I always think positive, but it was a surprise to hear.” Stanton also batted .281 and set career highs in home runs and RBI, leading the majors with 132. Votto, the OPS leader in the NL with a 1.032 mark, led the league in walks for the fifth time but also hit 36 homers to go along with 100 RBI. Both were on sub.500 teams. Stanton, who has the right to veto any trade, would not say whether he’ll express his desired destination to Marlins ownership but acknowledged he’s caught in the middle of an odd situation. “The thoughts are up and down,” he said. “They’re pretty bipolar, of everything that’s going on and how this is going to turn out and what’s going to happen with my team and my teammates and me, etc. There’s a lot of thoughts going on, but luckily I don’t have to worry about playing at 7 o’clock every night during my stuff.”