Marlins Sign Giancarlo Stanton To Record 13 Years $325 Million

[key2win]

Giancarlo Stanton and Miami Marlins agree to 13 year, $325 million deal - ESPN

Did Stanton demand a "Trade Clause" in this contract so he can leave. LOL!

MIAMI -- The Marlins are no longer pinching pennies, and Giancarlo Stanton won't be, either.

Stanton agreed to terms with the team Monday on a $325 million, 13-year contract, Miami owner Jeffrey Loria said. It's the most lucrative deal for an American athlete and averages $25 million per season, or $154,321 per game.

The deal includes a no-trade clause, and Stanton can opt out after six years, Loria said. A news conference was planned Wednesday.

"It's a landmark moment for the franchise and Giancarlo, and it's for the city and fans to rally around," Loria said.

Any kind of multiyear deal is a big departure for the Marlins and Loria, whose frugal ways in the past alienated fans, angered the players' union and made the franchise the butt of jokes.

Given such thriftiness, the Marlins' generosity toward Stanton becomes even more stunning. His contract tops the $292 million, 10-year deal Miguel Cabrera agreed to with the Detroit Tigers in March. Alex Rodriguez signed the largest previous deal, a $275 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees before the 2008 season.

Stanton, who turned 25 on Nov. 8, is perhaps the game's most feared slugger. He has 154 career homers despite playing home games in spacious Marlins Park.

"Giancarlo Stanton has come of age, and he's going to be here a long time," Loria said in a phone interview. "It's wonderful to have a young man this caliber, integrity and ability, and I'm very happy."

Stanton wasn't due to become eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season, and signing him to a long-term deal was considered a long shot for the Marlins. They haven't reached the playoffs since 2003, and he was distrustful of the franchise's direction.

The Marlins' 2014 payroll of $52.3 million was the lowest in the majors. The last time they spent big was before the 2012 season, the first in their new ballpark. Then came another salary purge, intensifying fan animosity toward Loria.

The owner hopes that will start to subside with the Stanton deal.

Stanton's 2014 season ended Sept. 11 when he was hit in the face by a pitch. Despite missing the final 17 games, he led the NL with 37 homers and a .555 slugging percentage for the Marlins, who went 77-85 but ended a three-year streak of last-place finishes in the NL East.

The Marlins have said they're not concerned the injuries will have lingering effects. They made locking up Stanton their top offseason priority and overcame his skepticism about their efforts to fielding a winning team.

The Marlins believe they're poised to contend next year with a young roster than includes right-handers Jose Fernandez and Henderson Alvarez, Gold Glove left fielder Christian Yelich, center fielder Marcell Ozuna and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

Stanton made a team-high $6.5 million in 2014. The two-time All-Star right fielder recently won the NL Hank Aaron Award and was voted the NL's outstanding player in balloting by his fellow major leaguers. He won a Silver Slugger Award and finished second to Clayton Kershaw in NL MVP voting.

Stanton likes to travel in the offseason and spend time in his native California. But he attended the Miami Hurricanes' home football game Saturday against Florida State, and now he'll be staying in town for a news conference.

[jimsjuggernaut]

He should have also demanded the Marlins take down that "thing" in CF as part of the deal. It must be distracting to a hitter!!

[ucffans]

So, he gets 25 Million for 13 years
He can opt out after year 6
AND he has a no trade clause

Something tells me the Marlins will regret this decision at some point.

[OriolesFan]

The Marlins owner & executives need to have their heads adjusted. True, he is a GOOD player. However, he is NOT exceptional. Look at his career stats. There is NOTHING in them that jumps out and indicates that he's really GREAT. Also, looking at his stats, it shows, on average, that he misses 25 or more games about every season. That's almost 1/6th of the season, and sometimes even more. In addition, why would they sign him to 13 years? He's already missing 1/6th of the season games now, how many will he be missing as he gets older? Good luck Marlins.

[key2win]

Giancarlo Stanton's $325M with Miami Marlins heavily backloaded - ESPN

Marlins looking smart here since he would have gotten $16-18 million in arbitration anyways. They will trade him before his higher salaried seasons kick in. They are just fooling their own fans yet again. LOL!

If Giancarlo Stanton opts out of his new 13-year, $325 million contract with the Miami Marlins after the first six seasons, he'll be walking away from a staggering $218 million over the final seven seasons, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.com Tuesday.

However, one source said Stanton was so motivated to give his team the financial flexibility to win now, he agreed to a heavily backloaded contract structure that will pay him just $30 million over the first three seasons.

According to a major league source who had seen the terms, Stanton's salaries over those first three seasons will be only $6.5 million in 2015, $9 million in 2016 and $14.5 million in 2017, far less than he could have earned through arbitration in 2015 and 2016 and then via free agency. He would earn $77 million over the next three seasons and could opt out of the contract after 2020, following his age 30 season.

So the Marlins would be on the hook for only $107 million of the deal over the first six seasons, which computes to an average annual value of just $17.83 million per season before Stanton would have the right to exercise the opt-out clause.

If Stanton remains a Marlin, the $218 million he would collect over those final seven seasons would average out to $31.14 million a year. He will have a complete no-trade clause through the life of the contract, a first for the Marlins under the ownership of Jeffrey Loria.

Sources said the contract was structured in a way that reflects Stanton's desire to give the Marlins the financial flexibility to construct a winning team around him in the early seasons of the deal. If they don't use that flexibility to add the pieces to build a contender, he could walk away and become a free agent again at age 31.

However, he would also be walking away from the majority of his guaranteed money by doing so.

The Marlins are looking for a middle-of-the-order bat to hit behind Stanton, and they have shown aggressive interest in free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, among others.

The $325 million deal with Stanton, who turned 25 this month, represents the largest contract in the history of North American professional sports. The Marlins have scheduled an 11 a.m. ET news conference Wednesday.