The big fish finally talked.
On the evening baseball's most-feared hitter was deservedly named National League MVP, Giancarlo Stanton offered fresh, yet guarded, opinions about his future, which will continue to be the sport's biggest offseason story until it is settled.
Stanton said things "seem pretty open right now" when asked Thursday night about his situation.
Stanton said to Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch that Miami's pitching woes would need to be "thoroughly addressed" for him to feel good about remaining with the Marlins.
Stanton said he hopes trade talks, and his preferences on the team he would like to be traded to, remain private.
Stanton did not say he has no interest in playing for the Cardinals. Stanton did not say he would use his no-trade clause as a shield to keep him out of St. Louis. Stanton did not say Imo's is overrated, and that the view from the Arch, once you take all the trouble of getting up there, ain't all that great.
Yet some in Cardinal Nation have jumped to the conclusion that Stanton wants no part of the Lou. Don't even try, say the naysayers. Focus attention elsewhere instead of finishing second.
Why?
Three reasons, as far as I can tell.
One is the opinion of Sirius XM radio host Craig Mish, who has said he believes the Marlins have received the impression from Stanton that he would veto a trade to the Cardinals.
Another is this line from baseball scribe Peter Gammons, who wrote that while "media speculation can list St. Louis, San Francisco and Boston as most likely landing spots, each one of those teams would have to sell him, because there is a strong feeling among those who know Giancarlo that they're not cities that fascinate him for different reasons."
And then there this a report from Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald, citing a source who said Stanton will block a trade to both the Red Sox and the Cardinals.
None of these appear to tie directly back from Stanton.
And their information has since been countered by an NBC Sports Boston report that cited a source saying Stanton hasn't ruled out the Red Sox, the Cardinals, or any other club.
Pick which outlet's anonymous sources you trust, I suppose.
And perhaps think twice about counting out the Cardinals as a contender for Stanton's services.
Where Stanton prefers to play is nothing to dismiss, due to his full no-trade clause. The Marlins and Team X can agree to a deal that suits both parties, but it falls apart unless Stanton agrees to the trade. Stanton will and should view any potential trade as how it affects him, not how it helps the Marlins. The power is in the power hitter's hands.
Of course Stanton has preferences. Who wouldn't? We all have dream jobs and dream living locations. Rarely do we get them both. (Last time I checked, the Cardinals do not have a team rule that says their players must live in St. Louis during the offseason.) My point: The city Stanton most wants to live in might not mesh with the kind of baseball (the winning kind) he hopes to play.
Somehow the speculation about where Stanton wants to live seems to have taken a back seat to his candid, on-the-record remarks about his frustration as a Marlin. "I don't want to rebuild ... I've lost for seven years," Stanton told FanRag Sports in late September, before the new Marlins ownership made it rather clear it wants to rebuild. Reminder: Stanton's not leaving Miami unless he agrees to a trade that suits the Marlins.
I don't want this to come across as some painting-over of warts.
St. Louis isn't Stanton's sunny and beach-laden home state of California. The Cardinals have missed the postseason for two consecutive years. Common sense says manager Mike Matheny might not be around if that slide hits year three.
But adding Stanton's 7.6 Wins Above Replacement to the Cardinals' lineup seems like a pretty good way to stop the skid. One guy doesn't make a team. That said, the slugger's services might turn an 83-win team into a playoff team, or more. The same can't be said for the 66-win Phillies.
Since Stanton made his major league debut in 2010, the Cardinals rank second in regular-season wins (720). They have played postseason baseball five years out of eight. They've played for it all twice, and went out on top in 2011. They realize what they lack. They are hungry to get back. Stanton says he's hungry to win big.
Busch Stadium packs in 3 million-plus fans per season, and can you imagine the crowds and excitement that Stanton would create? He's witnessed the passion at Roger Dean Stadium during spring training. He knows people here would trip over themselves to see him ... take batting practice.
A phone call to another California kid who found St. Louis to be quite comfortable after he was traded here might be worth a few minutes of Stanton's time.
You hear a lot about how Stanton grew up a Dodgers fan. You don't hear as much about him idolizing Mark McGwire. Like, really idolizing. As in, Stanton wore No. 25 and played first base for his little league team. A team called the Cardinals.
These days, Cardinals fans tend to kick themselves before they are down. St. Louis might not be on the top of Stanton's wish list. But I'd bet it ranks higher at the moment than remaining in Miami.
Don't underestimate what the Cardinals can offer.
If winning is the most important thing, Stanton could do a lot worse than St. Louis.
