Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton hits a RBI single to score Tyler Moore during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants are a “power starving” team. Their big question this winter is to put one or multiple power bats in that lineup. All Star Giancarlo Stanton was healthy this past season, played in 159 games, hit 59 home runs and drove in 132 runs his best season in 8 years with the Marlins. Previous best season was in 2014 when he finished with 37 home runs and 105 RBI. The Giants have shown interest in the Marlins slugger now for a few months, actually there was talk about this in July. Other teams in the hunt for Stanton; Cardinals who need that bat in a difficult division with the Cubs, the Phillies who badly need some excitement dying in the cellar these days and the Texas Rangers, who had a disappointing season are also showing interest. Of course there could be other “mystery “teams involved.

The Marlins now have new ownership and It looks like Derek Jeter and company are looking to unload payroll and re-load with pitching.

Here are some facts: Giants finished 64-98 in last place and hit 128 home runs, last in the National League and #29 in the major leagues among the 30 teams. The Marlins finished #26 in pitching with a 4.82 earned run average.

Giancarlo Stanton is set to make $25 million or more, in each of the next 11 years,(he only made $14.5 this season) with a player option from 2021 to 2027 and a club option for 2028.

For Miami their priority here is more financial than anything else, we are talking about at least $300 million dollars. Stanton is 27 years old, drafted #2 by the Marlins in 2007, grew up in Pacoima, California. His father is Puerto Rican. His parents just like the name Giancarlo, and that is what they named him.

The Marlins need starting pitching, their lineup is formidable, they score a lot of runs, although if Stanton leaves that hole in that lineup his bat will be missed for sure. They have very good players like, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, J.T Realmuto, Christian Yellich

Would the Giants trade Madison Bumgarner on a package deal or maybe another starter to the Marlins? And yes, Stanton has been plagued by injuries during his career in Miami. On February 20, 2013 he was hit on the face during an intrasquad game in Spring Training by Jose Fernandez. He had problems with his vision (it was a scary injury) but since then he has been relatively healthy.

Giancarlo Stanton is expected to met with owner Derek Jeter after the World Series. By then something might happen and the Giants, who seem to be as of today his preferred destination might have a deal or maybe not. Of course there are other hitters available that would not required that much money. One of them is OF Julio Daniel Martinez (aka J.D. Martinez) who had a great half season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is an excellent pure hitter with power and although it will not be cheap, it will not be $300 million.

There are no dynasties these days. Giants had a great run, winning three World Series between 2010 and 2014. Are they just one bat away from contention? I am not convinced. The Western Division of the National League is getting much better by the day, even the San Diego Padres have some young talent there for the future. Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Rockies have gotten much better in recent years. Many questions remain for the Giants even if they would get Stanton, what kind of Matt Moore will show up next season? Is Pablo Sandoval their third-baseman Opening Day? Can they get more speed? Can Melancon stay healthy the whole season?

Derek Jeter is interested in the services of ex-Yankee manager Joe Girardi. Jeter is contacting people he knew inside the NY Yankees organization as he builds his Miami Marlins.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum in San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com