NEWSLETTER
This time of year, I recognize that my windows for sleep must necessarily be reduced, and not just because the kids come blasting into the room at 5 am this morning screaming and turning on the lights and what are you doing little dude?!?!?
The news and rumors break at all hours, so I try to make it to at least 11:30 ET before cashing in my chips. Last night, I made it to 11:45! … it still wasn’t enough, though, since word of Giancarlo Stanton’s approved teams for a trade broke shortly after that. Big thanks to Michael and Luis for jumping on it, and by it, I mean this doozy:
Cubs Reportedly on Giancarlo Stanton’s Short Approval List, But Don’t Get Too Excited Yet
The Cubs have been mentioned on Stanton before, very early in the offseason, and our stand on it has remained unchanged: of course any team would love to have Stanton, but the Cubs aren’t taking on that full contract right now. Our instinct has long been that the only way the deal would make sense for the Cubs from a financial and roster-building standpoint would be if Jason Heyward were involved and going back the other way. But, given his no-trade clause and substantial contract, that simply isn’t going to happen right now.
So, then, although the Cubs being on Stanton’s four-team approved trade list is totally cool – everyone loves the Cubs! – it is not a “story” in the sense that they won’t be gunning for him right now. If they were the *only* team that he could go to? If the Marlins were utterly desperate to unload him? Well, then maybe the Cubs could squeeze out such a great deal that it wouldn’t make sense to say no, regardless of the fit. I don’t see that happening.
To me, what was most interesting about Craig Mish’s reports last night was the revelation that, at this point, Stanton is not ready to accept a trade to either of his top pursuers, the Cardinals or the Giants:
Now told Stanton will approve :
Dodgers
Yankees
Cubs
Astros— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) December 8, 2017
The only two deals that were agreed upon with the Marlins were with St Louis and San Francisco so Stanton took meetings with both of those clubs despite not being on his preferred list. Again, unclear at this time where they stand.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) December 8, 2017
I do not believe the Cubs & Astros are involved at a high level at this time. That is a belief, I do not have facts to back that up.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) December 8, 2017
It remains possible, based on Mish’s words and on the nature of things, that Stanton could eventually relent and accept a trade to San Francisco or St. Louis. It seems geography is less a concern for him than competitiveness (why then, by the way, wasn’t he willing to consider the Red Sox when they were interested?). For now, though, it seems like the Marlins may have to really push the Dodgers or Yankees to put something together, lest they have to hang onto Stanton at least until the Trade Deadline.
Adding further credence to Mish’s reporting, Ken Rosenthal wrote last night about that very issue. Rosenthal hears that each of the Dodgers and Yankees would take Stanton in a trade, but essentially, only if they get a great deal. Bummer for the Marlins, and Stanton has earned the right to be the hammer, not the nail (to use the metaphor once wielded by Ryan Dempster).
From the sound of things, the Giants and Cardinals are still hoping to land Stanton, but at some point, they’ll have to move on. In the meantime, the Marlins started their process of unloading other contracts by dealing Dee Gordon last night. At some point, they make another trade like that, unloading talent around Stanton, hoping to pressure him into playing elsewhere – since he clearly wants to be on a winner, hence his four-team list.
For now, at least Cubs fans can take a little yes-we’re-being-jerks glee in the fact that Stanton has approved a trade to the Cubs, even though they aren’t involved, and still won’t approve a trade to the Cardinals. Lulz.
