Giancarlo Stanton, in Yankee introduction, tells Marlins fans: 'Maybe watch from afar'
Giancarlo Stanton, indicating there is little relationship remaining with his brief and now former boss, Derek Jeter, implored Miami Marlins fans to "maybe watch the club from afar" after they opted for a wholesale rebuilding that crested when they traded the reigning National League MVP to the New York Yankees.
Stanton, introduced in his new pinstripe No. 27 jersey at baseball's winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., expressed excitement at joining a Yankees squad that, he said, can "strike from everywhere," and indicated he spoke with American League home run champ Aaron Judge, whose 52 home runs set a rookie record and only trailed the 59 home runs Stanton hit to lead the majors and win the National League MVP award.
MORE STANTON NEWS
- Stanton rips Marlins organization in farewell post
- What's next for the Yankees after landing Stanton?
- Nightengale: 'Evil Empire' is on full force once again
But it's clear Stanton was quietly disgusted by the new Marlins ownership group's decision to dismantle a club that won 77 games but featured a dynamic and at times dominant lineup.
Jeter, the club's chief operating officer, and GM Michael Hill have already dealt Stanton and second baseman Dee Gordon, with outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich possibly next. That came after a meeting with Stanton during which Jeter told him they were going to rebuild.
"We spoke about the direction of the team," Stanton told reporters. "I wanted us to go forward and advance with the pitching staff. I thought our lineup was legit and we needed help with our pitchers, to add and not subtract. The way they wanted to go was subtract.
"It’s almost a guaranteed losing season to take away from that lineup."
The relationship further deteriorated when Stanton, who had a full no-trade clause, saw Jeter negotiate with clubs not on his stated trade list; Stanton ultimately met with but turned down trades involving the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants.
"I gave my list of teams prior to (trade negotiations," Stanton said. "They went to San Francisco and the Cardinals and struck deals with them.
"I was open to listen to them, but those were not my teams. Those are great people; they were great meetings and culture there, but that just wasn’t the fit for me."
Jeter told reporters on a conference call Monday that he'd hoped to keep Stanton in 2018, but that the four-time All-Star did not agree that the Marlins - who haven't reached the playoffs since winning the 2003 World Series - were as "broken" as Jeter did.
“We are trying to fix something that is broken,” Jeter said. "I told (Stanton) this organization is trying to build. We can build with you or without you. He had the right to make the decision."
And so Stanton departs a franchise he referred to as a "circus" in an Instagram post; most of that tenure came with owner Jeffrey Loria at the helm.
It seems just two months with a regime led by Jeter and principal owner Bruce Sherman produced as much ill will as eight seasons under Loria's regime.
And so Stanton will wish his former teammates and his fans well; not so much for the group that will shepherd the franchise into the future.
"I would say hang in there," he said of Marlins fans. " They’re going to go through some more tough years, but I would advise them not to give up.
"Keep hope. Maybe watch from afar if you’re going to watch."
Gallery: Giancarlo Stanton through the years