Home / MLB / Houston Astros / MLB Door Prize Drawing #2: With Ohtani Donning A Halo, Can Astros Land Giancarlo Stanton?

MLB Door Prize Drawing #2: With Ohtani Donning A Halo, Can Astros Land Giancarlo Stanton?

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  • Updated: December 8, 2017

Coming soon to a Twitter feed near you: Photo ops of Shohei Ohtani visiting Disneyland, amid endless selfies with Mickey Mouse. Now that the feeding frenzy for the Japanese two-way star has ended with his signing with Anaheim (and joining an ecstatic Mike Trout…Michael Jordan finally gets his Scottie Pippen!), entries will now be shuffled in the Hot Stove fishbowl for the eventual drawing for the next high profile stud.

Reportedly, the Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton has dropped the names of the Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers, and Astros into the hopper, and is currently mixing them around. Yes, you heard right.

In any year prior to 2017, the Cubs, Dodgers, and Yankees would certainly be expected to be in on a name like Stanton’s, and even greeted with complacent yawns from insiders and fans. This time, though, thanks to that long-lost “W” word -winning- the Astros can now play with the big boys, and possibly woo a lineup-altering talent that would add to an already frightening offense. Such is the power of a World Series Championship.

The Astros are, finally, not the forgotten team, shunned as if riddled with leprosy, from any notion of a possible landing spot for a hot-shot free agent or trade acquisition.

Stanton turned in arguably the greatest individual season in Marlins franchise history in 2017, setting team records for home runs (59) and RBIs (132). He led MLB in both categories and became just the eighth player in history to smack 59 home runs.

The 28-year-old also became the first Marlins player to be named league MVP.

As recently as December 3, Stanton had the Cardinals and Giants on his wish list, with the Dodgers being the “only team he’d agree to waive his no-trade rights for now.”

Stanton is a Los Angeles native who grew up rooting for the Dodgers, so one can certainly understand his overwhelming desire to join them more than another team. Having never played for a .500 team, as well as never having gone to the playoffs since his 2010 MLB debut, Stanton is tired of losing and wants to compete for championships.

Gee, Gio, look no further than the current World Champs, if that’s the bar you’ve set.

This was Friday’s (December 8) update, according to MLB.com: “MLB Network Insider Ken Rosenthal reported on Thursday night that the Giants and Cardinals are not Stanton’s top preferences. The fact that Stanton has yet to sign off on a deal with either NL club also raises questions about the four-time All-Star outfielder’s interest with those teams. Rosenthal’s report added that Stanton would consider trades to the Dodgers or Yankees. Another report, from Craig Mish of SiriusXM, added the Cubs and Astros to the list of Stanton’s preferred destinations.”

You Won’t See These Questions on Jeopardy

So, if LA is Stanton’s lady (his hometown, wants to join the current NL champs, tired of losing), why is he dangling other teams into the mix, ala Ohtani (who made every MLB team, in essence, write a book report for the privilege of meeting with him)?

Is Stanton stroking his ego to see how manic the Yanks, Cubs, Dodgers, and Astros can get knowing the most dynamic power hitter of the day is dangling on the hook? Does he, now, even really care what anyone but the Dodgers have to say?

Can the hungry-for-ink Yankees actually acquire Stanton, and grab the splashy headlines they missed due to Ohtani’s Big Apple diss?

Will the Astros be able to pay Stanton his required $25 million a year, which stairsteps progressively to the mid-30 millions through 2027 ($295 million over the next decade), and still sign core four talents like Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel, all due spectacular salaries (or be lost to free agency) when current contracts end in the coming years?

Or, will some or all of those core four be needed by the Marlins to consummate a trade for Stanton? And, then what of the resultant Astro fan backlash should that occur?

Plus, this doesn’t make Stanton’s situation any less complicated: His full no-trade clause, as well as the fact that he can opt out in 2020.

The 2017 Baseball Winter Meetings will take place Dec. 10-14, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida.

UPDATE: After nixing trades to the Cardinals and Giants, Friday, December 8, reports surfaced Saturday morning (12/9) that Stanton and the Yankees had reached a deal, pending the player’s physical (really? They can’t just look at him?).

If Stanton hasn’t changed uniforms by Sunday, look for something to be done during those meetings….with some team. With the Ohtani sweepstakes now out of the way, the Stanton destination now looms as the biggest question going into the confab at the Disney Resort in Florida.

Right after the question of what day Ohtani will be available for his closeup with Mickey, that is.

Brad Kyle

Brad Kyle

Brad Ramone with (L-R) Dee Dee, Johnny, and Joey Ramone, backstage at Houston's Liberty Hall, July, 1977.

Johnny, the Ramones' influential guitarist, who passed away in 2004 at 55, was an avid baseball and New York Yankees fan since childhood. He even once ranked baseball above rock'n'roll in a personal Top 10 List!

Like Johnny, my love for rock is only equaled by my love for baseball and my hometown Houston Astros, present and past!

At TRS, you'll get full Astros coverage, minor league peeks, player profiles, interviews, MLB historical perspective, and maybe a little rock'n'roll!
Brad Kyle

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