The Marlins have warned Giancarlo Stanton that if he refuses to waive his no-trade rights and accept a deal then he risks being stuck on a stripped-down, rebuilding team, the Miami Herald reported, citing two unidentified sources with knowledge of the discussions.
According to multiple reports, the Cardinals and Giants are the only teams to have thus far submitted offers to acquire the reigning NL MVP, while the Red Sox are "tepid" about a trade for Stanton, the Boston Globe reported. Stanton's hometown Dodgers are presumed to be his preferred destination, MLB Network reported, after saying he has given the Marlins a list of teams to which he would accept a trade.
Giancarlo Stanton has given Marlins a list of clubs to which he would accept a trade, per @jonmorosi. Club hasn't confirmed.https://t.co/2DHZ8Qvf1y pic.twitter.com/vPmvc4GjjR
— MLB (@MLB) November 27, 2017
Sources: Some teams pursuing Giancarlo Stanton believe #Dodgers are his first choice, and that he will be reluctant to approve other destinations until there is clarity with LA. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 27, 2017
The Marlins' warning to Stanton, presented in October, wasn't an ultimatum, one of the Herald's sources said, but it shows that the team isn't without leverage in trying to move his massive contract (he's set to make $25 million in 2018 and $295 million over the remainder of deal).
Stanton previously has said he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild, but if he were to reject trade proposals to destinations he doesn't prefer, then the Marlins — in their avowed effort to hit a payroll target of $90 million in 2018 — could look to unload other relatively high-priced players such as outfielders Christian Yelich, under contract to make $7 million in '18, and Marcel Ozuna, projected to make approximately $11 million in arbitration.
That would be the start of Stanton potentially being stuck, the Herald noted, as "the lone star on a stripped-down team (going) through a slow and potentially agonizing rebuild."