Giancarlo Stanton's $325M megadeal with Marlins 'in place'

Justin McGuire

Giancarlo Stanton's $325M megadeal with Marlins 'in place' image

The long-rumored 13-year, $325 million record megadeal between the Marlins and slugger Giancarlo Stanton is done and will be announced at a press conference this week.

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria confirmed the agreement Monday after CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman and others reported a deal was "in place."

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“A landmark day. It means everything to the franchise,” Loria told the Miami Herald in a telephone interview. “We have a face of the franchise for the next 13 years."

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reported that the Marlins will announce the signing Wednesday at an 11 a.m. ET press conference.

Heyman had some particulars about the contract:

"According to the terms of this deal, which is the largest in North American sports history — eclipsing Miami product Alex Rodriguez's $275-million Yankees contract — Stanton will be able to opt out not long after he turns 30, giving him a chance to set a second contractual record, as A-Rod did at age 32, via his opt out seven years ago," Heyman reports.

Stanton hit .288/.395/.555 with a National League-leading 37 homers in 2014.

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Stanton’s 154 home runs through his age-24 season are tied for the 10th-most in baseball history with Johnny Bench. The nine players ahead of them are Eddie Mathews, Alex Rodriguez, Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Robinson, Albert Pujols, and Orlando Cepeda.

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. Fans and media still remember Loria's fire sale in 2012-13 after the owner spent big for the likes of Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson.

That sell-off and subsequent roster rebuilding set the stage for the Stanton deal, Loria said.

"Unfortunately people didn't understand that two years ago, we had no choice," the owner said. "I had to get to today."

Loria said he doesn't expect Stanton to opt out when he's 31, and sees a positive side to the no-trade clause.

"There will be no distraction about, 'Will he be traded?'" Loria said.

Stanton's 2014 season ended Sept. 11 when he was hit in the face by a pitch and suffered fractures in his face and other injuries. 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.

Other deals that will upgrade the roster are planned, Loria said.

"We probably need another bat and could use another starting pitcher," Loria said. "We're going to work on it."

Contributing: Tom Gatto, The Associated Press

Justin McGuire