Derek Jeter says he had "no feelings" about trading Giancarlo Stanton to his former team and believes it was "the best deal" for the Marlins.
The Miami CEO, who skipped the Winter Meetings, said on a Monday conference call that there is nothing he would've done differently throughout the process. He added that Stanton wanted to leave the team.
"It gives us flexibility," Jeter said of the deal that sent the 28-year-old slugging outfielder to the Yankees. "We're trying to fix something that is broken. I'm just as impatient as the fans."
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Monday that he never dealt with Jeter during the Stanton talks, only Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill.
Stanton, who led the majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs last season, wasn't interested in being part of the team's rebuilding process. Jeter said he told him, "We can build with or without you."
Stanton nixed deals to St. Louis and San Francisco before waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a trade to New York. He is still owed $295 million over the final 10 years of his mega-contract, and the Bombers will reportedly pick up $265 million. Stanton can opt out of his deal after the 2020 season. He will make $77 million from 2018-2020, including $25 million next year.
"I have no feelings about trading him to the Yankees," Jeter told reporters. "It was the best deal for us."
In return for Stanton, Miami received second baseman Starlin Castro, minor league right-handed pitcher Jorge Guzman and minor league infielder Jose Devers.
Jeter disagreed with the notion that the Marlins received little back for the reigning 2017 NL MVP.
The ex-Yankee captain has had a rough start since taking over the Marlins, having others do his firings for him while offering significantly less money to Mr. Marlin himself, Jeff Conine, who elected to leave the organization. Although he didn't show up at the Winter Meetings, it's something Jeter says he was never planning to do. It is for these reasons some are comparing him to former owner Jeffrey Loria.
The Marlins are reportedly $400 million in debt, and in the middle of another roster teardown by new ownership.
