ORLANDO, Fla. _ Giancarlo Stanton was the star slugger everybody wanted _ he wanted the Yankees.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman didn't think the trade would go through Wednesday, but the Marlins re-engaged on Thursday.
The 28-year-old passed on deals to St. Louis and San Francisco, ultimately choosing to waive his no-trade clause to go to New York.
Why?
"Just watching them from afar, seeing their young dynamic group and the way they flow together on the field, how they never give up, never quit, the atmosphere, the storied franchise," Stanton quickly rattled off reasons at Monday's introductory press conference at the Winter Meetings.
"There's not much you can say about why you wouldn't want to be there," he said.
Stanton, who will wear No. 27, knew it was time to leave the Marlins, telling new CEO and part-owner Derek Jeter that he didn't like the direction of the team going forward. He thought Miami needed to add pitchers to complement its lineup, but the Marlins wanted to subtract.
"I didn't want to be a part of another rebuild, another losing season," Stanton explained, calling his former club a "circus."
The National League MVP said he listened to other deals but they were not his teams. "They were great meetings, great organizations and culture there. But that just wasn't the fit for me," he said.
Stanton added: "I had a good vision (in Miami), but sometimes things just spiral out of place and you have to find a new home. So I'm very excited to be here and be a part of the Yankees. I'm just looking forward to stepping up and being part of this winning environment and winning culture."
Stanton joins a team that finished just one win shy of the World Series and includes Aaron Judge, whom he spoke to a few days ago.
"We're excited to get better together and use our talents together," Stanton said of teaming up with the AL Rookie of the Year.
Stanton is still owed $295 million over the final decade of his mega-deal, with the Yankees reportedly picking up $265 million. Stanton can opt out of his deal after the 2020 season, but agent Joel Wofle told reporters "he has no desire to opt out."
