MLB Trade Rumors: Marlins willing to engage teams interested in Giancarlo Stanton

It’s not often that a superstar breaks a franchise’s single-season home run record and is shopped by an organization in the same week.

Welcome to the circus that is the Miami Marlins.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Miami Marlins are "willing to engage" with other teams on Giancarlo Stanton trade but are not involved in any serious talks. Money remains an issue with Stanton. If teams were comfortable with entire $295M obligation after this year, he would've been claimed. The fact that he cleared trade waivers is a strong indication that other MLB clubs are not comfortable assuming the full value of Stanton's contract, which is the largest in North American team sports history.

Morosi notes teams who may be interested:

Still, the Nationals, Giants and Angels are viewed as possible suitors for Stanton, either this month or during the offseason. The Nationals' entire Opening Day outfield is on the disabled list; among that group, Jayson Werth (after this season) and Bryce Harper (after 2018) are approaching free agency. The Giants, the only MLB team yet to hit 100 home runs this season, are desperate to add power. And the Angels would love to make a splash with the savings they'll enjoy after the expiration of Josh Hamilton's contract following this season; Stanton is a popular Southern California native.

Owner Jeffrey Loria’s controversial time is ending, but controversial decisions for the franchise still loom.

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The Marlins have been caught in between contention and rebuild for years. The Marlins are used to falling short of winning the division title – they’re only one of two teams in MLB to never do so – but the team is showing improvement. For the first time since 2009, the Fish are on pace to finish in second place in the division. But despite the improvement, the gap between the Marlins and Washington Nationals for the division lead is insurmountable – 13.5 games to be exact – and the attendance level remains annually poor (28^th among 30 MLB teams).

There are many passionate Marlins fans who may attend games with new ownership taking over the franchise. But what was the reason fans come to Marlins Park to begin with? The superstars — or mainly Giancarlo Stanton.

Don't expect any irrational decisions, though. It's likely that the Marlins' current front office would solicit the input of incoming owners Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter before trading a player of Stanton's caliber. The sale of the franchise, which was agreed upon last week, is likely to be finalized in the coming months, per Morosi.

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Is it the right decision to trade the only superstar attraction the Marlins have left? It remains a debatable topic. You can check out Ely Sussman’s piece about it, here. The haul the Marlins can receive could be franchise-changing, accelerating the rebuild process the Fish have been stuck in for so long. Star prospects and MLB players could headline the package, leaving endless possibilities of the potential reward the Marlins would receive from the highest bidder.

But what if the prospects or players received in the trade don’t live up to the potential?

That would be franchise-crippling; something the Marlins have a history of and can’t afford… again.