The San Francisco Giants have emerged as the favorites to land 2017 National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton, but even if the club acquired Stanton this offseason, the Marlins’ slugger wouldn’t address all of the team’s needs.
After a 64-98 finish this season, the Giants could use help at a slew of different positions around the diamond, and with Miami apparently eager to unload many of its highest-paid players, San Francisco could be in position to swing a trade for multiple Marlins’ players.
On Wednesday morning, Giants’ broadcaster joined Brian Murphy and Marcus Thompson on KNBR to discuss potential Stanton deals, and he said that adding Marlins’ second baseman Dee Gordon to a potential swap would instantly change San Francisco’s lineup.
“He’s (Gordon) a sensational player,” Kuiper said. “He’s an impact player. He’s a guy that would totally change your lineup because you just put him in the leadoff spot and let him go. That’s not as big a name as Giancarlo Stanton, but it is a big name and you’re not missing anything on this guy, he’s a great player.”
Gordon’s name was mentioned in a report earlier this week that linked the Giants to Stanton, as Sirius XM radio host Craig Mish indicated the Giants and Marlins were discussing a potential trade that would include Gordon, Stanton, Giants’ second baseman Joe Panik and San Francisco prospects Tyler Beede and Chris Shaw.
Kuiper said that he anticipates more players will be named in reported conversations in the near future, and that he thinks San Francisco would have to give up a lot to land both Gordon and Stanton in the same trade.
“This is what’s going to happen for awhile until something gets done with Stanton,” Kuiper said. “You’re going to see a lot of names getting thrown out there and you know, I said this the other day, it’s hard to see guys’ names out there that you like a lot. Joe Panik obviously is a guy that we all like a lot and look, I’m not shocked to see those names. It’s probably going to take something like that to get Stanton. I was always kind of under the impression that you didn’t have to give a lot if you’re going to take all of the money. I may be wrong, you may have to give up a lot and that would be a lot. But talking about filling a big hole with all the power that Stanton’s got and the attraction that he has, we’re probably going to see more and more names getting thrown out like the three you just mentioned.”
A two-time All-Star, Gordon has spent the last three seasons in Miami and is owed at least $10.8 million in each of the next four years. It’s unclear whether the Giants would be willing to take on both Stanton and Gordon’s contracts, but Kuiper said that to acquire both players, the names listed in Mish’s report sound realistic.
“201 hits, a Gold Glove-caliber player, already has won one, that price range is probably about right.”
To listen to Kuiper’s interview with Murph & Thompson, click the podcast link below. To listen to Kuiper discuss Gordon and potential trades, skip ahead to the 50-second mark.
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