The Giancarlo Stanton contract and the rest of baseball

Sep 1, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) connects for a solo home run during the first inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins are close to giving 25-year old Giancarlo Stanton a 13-year, $325M deal to stay with the team for basically the remainder of his career.

That is insane money for a team that has limited payroll, and that contract at some point will become an albatross to the team.

Given Stanton is only going to be 25 years old at the beginning of next season, towards the end of that deal it is going to get rough for the Marlins.

This past season, the right fielder Stanton was an NL MVP candidate with a .288 batting average. That average included 37 home runs, 105 RBIs and a .395 on-base percentage.

Stanton played in 145 games where he played in most every game this season until his season was ended after being struck in the face with a baseball.

Also in his ’14 season he hit 31 doubles and scored 89 runs.

Sep 27, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) hits a two-run home run in the first inning of their game against the Kansas City Royals at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Now Chicago White Sox fans … if this were happening with the South Siders would you be in favor of this?

Let’s ask if this was White Sox superstar rookie Jose Abreu, who had similar stats with a .317 batting average, 36 home runs, 35 doubles, and a .383 on-base percentage in 145 games in ’14 … would you be in favor of a deal like this?

The big issue the Marlins brass is missing is this: How do they plan on competing towards the end of that deal? I realize that there are opt outs, but do you really think that Stanton will opt out of that type of money?

Every executive not only looks at today, but the future as well. Miami is a team that can’t afford to being paying a third of its salary to one player.

It just isn’t reality, considering the fact that they are a team that many times will have to go young and most importantly build form within.

While Stanton has played nowhere else but Miami, this contract will hinder the Marlins from re-signing other key players they have brought up through the system.

It is impossible to win with just one player. No team does it. Even the New York Yankees, who sign stars to mega-deals all the time are constantly developing some of their own talent.

Not to mention the fact that their budget is much higher the Marlins, allowing them to sign multiple players to large deals instead of just one.