Miami Marlins May Go Big on Giancarlo Stanton Deal

The Miami Marlins, often criticized for their salary dumping ways may be planning to offer 24-year-old slugger Giancarlo Stanton the biggest deal in MLB history. Previously, the largest contract ever handed out by the Marlins was a six-year $106 million deal they gave Jose Reyes during the 2011-12 off-season. Many believe Stanton is well-positioned to be MLB’s first $300 million player when he becomes a free agent after the 2016 season.

Stanton has been critical of the Marlins front office in the past and is on record as saying that he wants to see Miami move forward in regards to player acquisition and building the team back into a contender.

“He’s the leader of this franchise,” said team president David Samson to Nightengale. “We always knew the talent he had, but what he’s done this year, playing every day, he’s the definition of a game-changer … We call him a no-food player. A no-bathroom player. When he comes to the plate, nobody leaves their seat. There’s no question he’s the MVP of this league.”

Stanton will make $6.5 million this season, his first year of arbitration-eligibility. His salary will climb well north of $10 million in 2015 and should approach $20 million in 2016.

Anything less than $200 million would almost certainly result in Stanton finding a new place to play.