The Dodgers should stay far away from Giancarlo Stanton
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2017-18 offseason with one goal in mind: win just one more game in the World Series. However, that one extra win does not take Giancarlo Stanhton.
Very few things are as exciting as a moon-blasted home run in sports. Hail Marys, buzzer beaters and long distance free kick goals come close. Nobody in the game hits home runs better than Marlins’ slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton is the proud owner of the third-longest home run in Dodger Stadium history. Regardless, the Dodgers should stay away from Stanton.
Stanton’s 475-foot blast in 2015 definitely was a site to see. It is understandable how intrigued Dodger fans would be to see that kind of power 81 times a year. It is also understandable why the Dodgers would want Stanton and his 59 home runs in their lineup. The team needs a right-handed hitting bat and an additional outfielder. On paper, Stanton is the perfect man for the job.
Except he isn’t.
Do not get me wrong, as a Dodger fan myself I would love to see Stanton in Dodger blue blasting moonshots alongside Cody Bellinger. Los Angeles has not seen that kind of raw power since Mike Piazza in the late nineties; we are overdue. In fact, the Dodgers set a personal best for home runs in 2017, making the addition of Stanton only icing on the cake.
2017 combined salary of Dodgers WS Game 7 lineup (minus Darvish):
— Frank López (@BeisbolFrank) November 9, 2017
-$27,990,000
2018 Giancarlo Stanton salary:
-$25,000,000
Dodgers can build a World Series lineup with Stanton's salary.
Giancarlo Stanton is the face of the Miami Marlins organization. However, Stanton is owed a lot of money and the new ownership — led by Derek Jeter — seems to want to part ways with Stanton. Although there are better natural fits for Stanton, this has not stopped the speculation around Stanton and the Dodgers.
At the end of the day, Stanton’s contract reeks of future woes. Stanton is owed $310 million through his age 39 season (2028). However, Stanton owns a player option every single season from 2021 to 2027. As soon as things start to go haywire Stanton can leave as he pleases.
This could come back to haunt a team that invested so much time, effort and prospects on Stanton. Still, though, he should help the Dodgers win a World Series in 2018 right? If he does, maybe it is worth all the years of misery ensuing?
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No, it isn’t. First, signing Stanton could jeopardize the Dodgers’ chances of resigning Corey Seager, Bellinger and others once their rookie contracts are up. Then, the Dodgers become a one-man show with Stanton leading the way. That is not exactly working out well for the Marlins, is it?
Second, Stanton is far too injury prone to take this kind of risk on. 2017 was the first time since 2014 that Stanton played at least 120 games. In fact, this was the only season in which Stanton played more than 150 games. While his power is intimidating, he never seems to piece together a full season.
When he does, sure it leads to 59 home runs. However, Stanton has hit as low as .240 in one season and as he gets older the strikeouts will only increase. We see it with every big slugger (Ryan Howard, Jose Bautista) and it will eventually happen to Stanton.
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Overall, the Dodgers are just fine with the pieces they currently have. While Stanton is an intriguing option, it may not be worth it in the end. If the Marlins want to eat a chunk of the contract it is possible. Otherwise, it should be a no-go for the Dodgers.