Giancarcio Stanton Wins the Lottery

In a move that shocked the baseball world, the penny-pinching Florida Marlins gave one of their own the richest deal in North American sports history yesterday.

Giancarcio Stanton, who just turned 25 years old about a week ago, signed a 13-year deal worth nearly 1/3 of a BILLION dollars. Much like the Angels Mike Trout, this kid has power to spare, already having 154 home runs in his young career. He and Trout both have the possibility of breaking the near-mythical career home run record set by Barry Bonds.

The Florida Marlins had a chance to sign a very young Miguel Cabrera to this type of deal a few years back and they elected to continue pinching pennies instead. Given a second chance, they decided NOT to make the same decision twice. They are now all in. They are going to sign their stars and keep them. They want a winner and are now willing to spend real  money to make that happen.

NORMALLY I'm against long-term deals like this for pitchers and MOST players, but giving these types deals to players like Trout and Stanton, who already have a proven track record of power and average just makes sense. Very rarely does a young power hitter turn into a bust. They usually have years of consistent stats.

Pitchers aren't worth long-term deals. Arms turn sour fast. I wouldn't sign someone like Joe Mauer to a long-term deal. High averages slide quickly. Chuck Knoblach and Joe Mauer both come to mind.

But guys who hit for both power AND average? Lock 'em in. Barring injury, both Trout and Stanton should average 35-40 homeruns (or more) a season for the next decade. THESE are the type of players that big long-term deals are made for. These are the types of players that EARN those contracts.

The Marlins attendance will DOUBLE next season because of this deal. Some players are worth it. They pay for themselves.

Don't listen to anyone who compares this deal (or Trout's) to the one that Joe Mauer signed with the Twins. The Twins never had a player worth that much money. The Angels and Marlins do. And they're going to ride their thoroughbreds all the way to the bank.

The Twins were stupid. The Angels and Marlins are smart. That's the difference. Barring injury, these players will become legends playing for one team while chasing records and MVP titles their entire careers.

That's the way it should be.