(ESPN) 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.
I texted this to my brother the other day, but at what point are GM’s going to just say “ah forget it” to the dollar amounts in these deals and start offering players contracts that really turn these men into kings?
“Okay, so let’s see here – we’ve got the $100 billion over 2 years guaranteed, as well as the 100 gold statues carved to your likeness, the 2 mile stretch of our city that will henceforth carry your name, I’ve rounded up 100 servants to wait on you hand and foot for the length of the contract, found 100 virgins – which was tough these days! – to act as your maids, and you get 10 free punches to the face of any member of the front office for the duration of your contract (no explanation necessary). Does that meet your needs, ma’lord?”
Also, if anyone thinks Stanton is going to actually finish that 13 year monstrosity with the Marlins, they’re crazy. I say he’s no longer playing for the Marlins within 5 years. Yeah, he’ll be leaving more money on the table than most of us will ever sniff in our lifetime if he does, but the desire to win a championship will win him away from the money in Florida. Unless they actually build a solid franchise – and I mean build a talent pipeline on the farm, not just acquire some All Stars to try and win like they did in 2012 (only to offload all the players after one season) – and gain a fanbase, I can’t imagine a player of Stanton’s caliber selling his chance at winning a championship for the Miami lifestyle. Then again, $218 million is enticing.
Don't Think, Just Throw 
