The Miami Marlins could be quickly revamping their organization's philosophy. They aren't known for offering up big contracts to free agents or even their own players, but MLB sources say the team is discussing an immense deal that would keep Giancarlo Stanton around for a while.
The potential deal is for "at least 10 years and at least $300 million," according to MLB sources via FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. Such a contract would not only make Stanton the highest paid player in baseball, but he would also earn the largest contract in the history of sports. Although it's an extremely uncharacteristic move for the Marlins, they see an opportunity with the 25-year-old Stanton.
If this 10-year, $300 million deal were to happen, Stanton's average annual salary would be 66% of their entire 2014 payroll. The largest payroll in Marlins history came in 2012 ($101 million) when they signed shortstop Jose Reyes, starting pitcher Mark Buehrle and closer Heath Bell to lucrative contracts. However, that trio didn't work out and they were all off the team at some point in 2013. Before that, the team's largest payroll was just over $60 million in 2005.
Stanton and the Marlins opened contract extension talks last week and it became known after team president Mike Hill told the media. It was initially assumed that Miami would try to lock the outfielder up with a $200 million, but that number has jumped to $300 million in less than a week. Although it sounds crazy, it kind of makes sense because they'll be sure to get Stanton's best years when he's 25 through 35 years old. Take, for example, the contracts of Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Robinson Cano.
Rodriguez is earning at least $20 million per year from the ages of 39-41; Pujols will be earning at least $24 million annually from the ages of 35-41 and; Cano will be raking in $24 million per year when he's 38-40 years old. We've already seen the declines of Rodriguez and Pujols, so it's assumed Cano will begin to fall off soon enough. But if the Marlins lock up Stanton now it's almost a guarantee they get the most they possibly can out of him. The NL MVP finalist slashed .288/.395/.555 with 37 home runs and 105 as a 24-year-old this past season. In five seasons he already has 154 home runs and 399 RBIs.
The fact that he isn't worth $30 million per year right now isn't a way to look at the entirety of the situation. It's an investment rather than a dying effort to sign a free agent a team thinks they really need or one they really want. How many times have we seen free agents get money thrown at them solely to put the negotiations and competition with other teams to an end?
If the deal comes to fruition, Stanton will have a higher annual salary than Rodrigez, Pujols, Cano, Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Clayton Kershaw and probably every other athlete on the face of the Earth with the exception of Floyd Mayweather and possibly soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
