Giancarlo Stanton Eliminates Cardinals from Consideration
If there’s a race for Giancarlo Stanton’s heart, the Cardinals haven’t gotten a rose and won’t be headed to the final rounds. Jon Morosi is reporting that the player blocked a trade to the Cardinals and informed the teams of his choice this afternoon.
Giancarlo Stanton has decided not to accept trade to St. Louis. #STLCards GM John Mozeliak: “Unfortunately we were not able to convince Stanton to waive his no-trade clause and join the Cardinals. We felt this was a great landing spot for him, but it was not meant to be.” @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 8, 2017
In terms of projected standings, the Cardinals are a top-ten team that would have become more formidable with the inclusion of that giant bat in the middle of their lineup, so it may be fair for fans St. Louis to decry the choice.
But most of the names that are supposedly on Stanton’s approved list — the Astros, Cubs, Yankees, and Dodgers — are also all in the top ten when it comes to projected outcomes. He can still go to a great team and make them better.
And while there’s reporting that the Giants are not fairing well in terms of their ranking on the remaining teams — The Chronicle’s Henry Schulman is reporting that “Stanton has told friends that the Giants are not his first choice and might be his last” — San Francisco is officially still in the running, which proves one more thing: Stanton is a human being with many different things that are important to him, including where he wants to live, where his family will live, and where he wants to play.
It’s frustrating, perhaps, to follow this as a fan. But we have to remember his humanity and respect his process as he tries to make one of the more important choices of his career. We’ll see who’s next to drop off the list as this continues.
With a phone full of pictures of pitchers' fingers, strange beers, and his two toddler sons, Eno Sarris can be found at the ballpark or a brewery most days. Read him here, writing about the A's or Giants at The Athletic, or about beer at October. Follow him on Twitter @enosarris if you can handle the sandwiches and inanity.
To quote the movie Moneyball, “Would you rather get one shot in the head or five in the chest and bleed to death?”
Tough news for the Cardinals after they made the best offer to the Marlins, but knowing that they are out for certain frees them to go after other alternatives.
Do we know it was the best offer? SF was rumored to be eating more money.
Agreed that getting this finished opens them up to all the other avenues they have to consolidate assets.
So when does the second shoe drop? Will Giants be announcing their new acquisition soon, or do they get kicked to the curb as well?
Curb it is!
Fascinating stuff – I wonder to what extent this will cause clubs to clamp down further on full no-trade clauses and just shell out more AAV.
You knew what you were signing onto when you agreed to the no-trade. “No-trade” shouldn’t mean “eh, we just have to try a little harder”.
the BFIF will take this news with their usual heartbreaking grace, humility and good sportsmanship, wishing him well in his future endeavours just like they did with Jason Heyward.
Or not.
One or the other. I’m not sure which.
d’uh – BFIB
I never have hard feelings towards a player that exercises a right he explicitly had negotiated into his contract. He gave up something in exchange for this no trade clause–it is his right to use it for his benefit, however he sees fit.
idk where else to ask this;
I have a very legit question that does not pertain to this topic.
We know players begin their careers with little to no power and then make some type of mechanical change or adjustment to start tapping into some more power later in their careers, well has there ever been a player to start out his major league career as a slugger and then in about the second half of his playing career, turns into a type of speed and defense/little power kind of guy, whether intentionally or unintentionally? I’m quite stoned right now and this just popped into my head.
Players don’t get faster as they age, but there are some who lost their power but continued to provide value by drawing a ton of walks, such as Todd Helton.
I’m a baseball fan, and I really don’t see why anyone should find this “frustrating”. Now, if I were a baseball writer in need of actual content, well, maybe then.
dunno, to us writers its an ongoing fountain of content, wouldn’t call it frustrating. thought it might be to a Cardinals fan.
As a Cardinals fan it’s frustrating that too talent doesn’t want to play for them and it’s not about them being cheap anymore.
Eno,
Lessons regarding pitching and finger placement on the ball. Playing well with others too. I liked the joke.