At Marlins Park on Wednesday afternoon, the phones continued to ring and President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest was asked the same question. Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was not available, Beinfest told several interested clubs, though there reportedly was an offer that made the organization's front office hesitate.
"We were on the phone," Beinfest said in an interview with MLB.com. "There were some texts. There were some ideas; we threw out an idea late. Kind of a normal day, but we never really got the sense that anything was close."
According to one report, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a last minute push for Stanton. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald refuted the report, explaining in a tweet that while the Marlins did receive a number of calls on the power-hitting right fielder, the Pirates were not among the teams who picked up the phone.
Though the team was not expected to trade Stanton, several reports indicated that if the front office was blown away, they may have dealt him for a package of prospects.
The fact that Miami held onto Stanton, who owner Jeffrey Loria has personally said he would love to build a team around, shows that the organization is confident in the young core they have put together.
"Guys are getting experience," Beinfest said. "We've got our pitching back. Guys got healthy, and we started to look the way we were hopeful we would look right from the start. But it didn't work out that way. No doubt. The way we've played the last two months definitely mattered."
Before last year's deadline, Hanley Ramirez, Gaby Sanchez, Randy Choate, and Edward Mujica were all dealt. Prior to Wednesday, only starter Ricky Nolasco and minor league outfielder Gorkys Hernandez were traded. Greg Dobbs, Placido Polanco, Juan Pierre, Chad Qualls and Ryan Webb were among those who Miami was willing to trade.
Had the Marlins not turned things around, more trades may have been made. Beinfest believed if the team continued to play the way they did in April and May, a closer look at the team's key pieces would have been necessary.
"If April and May continues, yeah, I think you do feel differently about things," Beinfest said. "Maybe you have to rethink your whole program in total."
Because they were not dealt, Miami will rely heavily on its veterans to help maintain the success of the team's youth. Giancarlo Stanton, who the Marlins are expected to try and extend this winter, will play a key role in the Marlins' success as the season concludes.
"I think some of our more experienced players are filling vital roles here," Beinfest said. "We looked at it in total and said, 'OK, what is their production? What is their contribution to the team both in the clubhouse and on the field, etc.?' And if they fit that role and we think they're helping, then absolutely we would want them to stay."
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