Stop the Giancarlo Stanton madness!

I agree. A package of Brooks or Cecchini, Barnes, Vazquez, Bradley, and Betts for Stanton seems absurd. Grossly over-paying. Yes, Stanton is very talented and could easily hit 40 home runs at Fenway, but giving up 5 GOOD prospects for him seems like a little much. Stanton is a constant injury concern and has only topped 123 games once in three full seasons. This would be trading away: our 3B of the future, our future #2 or #3 starter, back-up catcher, starting center fielder, and Betts, who could play anywhere and be productive. And we would get one player, although very talented, in return.

This trade would make a little more sense if all of these guys were in the lower minors. However, all but Betts are expected to crack the MLB roster sometime in 2014.

i dont beleive for a minute that Miami would do that trade. its not enough. and i dont beleive that boston would do that trade either

I wouldn't put stock in anything that blockhead Nick Cafardo writes.

I would think the Sox have pieces that would interest the Marlins, but they won't deal Stanton this year and unless they bust next year they won't deal him then either. If they do, it would be with them floundering (no pun intended) around July 31, 2015.

If that's the case a big question is how is Christian Vazquez doing? If he's off to a strong start in his rookie year with the Sox, he could be a prime attraction to the Marlins who could move Salty to another position.

One of Middlebrooks, Cecchini, or Marrero could be part of the package. The Sox would need to see how Bogaerts progresses defensively at SS before making Marrero available in any deal.

Then the Marlins would look for a pitcher. Perhaps the Sox interest the Marlins in a big arm like Kukuk or Mercedes if they're progressing or perhaps Webster or De La Rosa if they can graduate to the majors and provide value - or maybe Barnes or Ranaudo. Perhaps even Brentz progresses and could be a 3rd or 4th piece in a deal. Or maybe the Marlins insist on a Margot.

The key is that there might be enough for the Sox to make a deal that doesn't include Betts, Owens, or Swihart, Devers, or Ball, but that depends upon where the Marlins are by mid 2015 and how well the Sox prospects continue to progress.

If I'm Boston I wouldn't overpay for Stanton. I think he'll have a great career, but you can't gut the system for one guy. Thankfully the Sox didn't give up way too much for Adrian Gonzalez. He was supposed to be the answer, the guy just about everybody drooled over while he was bashing in the Padres' huge home ballpark, but he wasn't. I think it's better to sign a big bopper via free agency (the way they did with Manny) that to deal your best prospects. There was a point in 2012 where I felt they would have been better off if they had re-signed Beltre for 3b, hung onto Youks and had Rizzo waiting in the wings for when Youks declined. Of course, that's 20-20 hindsight, but the point is the Gonzo was supposed to be The Man, just like Stanton is the guy everybody dreams about now.

With his injury history I'd give up my best B prospects and a young player like WMB, but I wouldn't give up my blue chippers. I'd just as soon take the gamble that he reaches free agency and take my best shot then. At that point with all the kids on that team the payroll should be plenty low enough for the Sox to afford a marquis free agent.