Marlins announce 13-year, $325M extension with Giancarlo Stanton
The Miami Marlins made a franchise-altering investment Wednesday morning by officially signing Giancarlo Stanton to the largest contract in the history of U.S. professional sports.
Team owner Jeffrey Loria announced at a press conference at Marlins Park that the club has finalized a 13-year, $325 million extension with Stanton that includes a club option for the 2028 campaign.
All but official! #FishForLife pic.twitter.com/uVzlgiWTXh
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) November 19, 2014
"This is a landmark day," Loria told MLB.com on Tuesday. "I'm happy for the city. I'm happy for him. And I'm thrilled for baseball. We have a player who is committed to us, and we've committed to him for the life of his career."
Stanton's record-smashing deal reportedly contains several notable provisions, namely complete no-trade protection and an opt-out clause that activates after the 2020 campaign. Stanton, however, will earn just $30 million over the first three years of the deal, affording the Marlins enough financial flexibility to improve their current roster.
"Everyone wants to talk about the record breaking deal and all that," Stanton told a gallery teeming with reporters. "I want to talk about setting records on the field."
Stanton, incidentally, is poised to earn $107 million over the first six years of his new deal and would forfeit an addition $218 million should he exercise his opt-out clause after 2020 - something he may be prepared to do if the club isn't in a position to contend.
"The importance of this is, it's great for this franchise and the city," Loria said. "Besides being a terrific athlete, he's a first-class young man. I've loved watching him play, but I love this kid. He's just a special young man."
Stanton's accomplishments through the nascent stages of his career have been nothing short of historic. Only seven other players have recorded at least 150 home runs with an adjusted on-base plus slugging greater than 140 before the age of 25 - five of whom are already enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
| Player | OPS+ ▾ | HR | G | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Pujols | 167 | 160 | 629 | 21-24 |
| Mickey Mantle | 166 | 173 | 808 | 19-24 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 165 | 174 | 810 | 17-24 |
| Eddie Mathews | 154 | 190 | 732 | 20-24 |
| Mel Ott | 150 | 176 | 983 | 17-24 |
| Ken Griffey | 149 | 172 | 845 | 19-24 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | 144 | 154 | 634 | 20-24 |
| Frank Robinson | 142 | 165 | 735 | 20-24 |
(Courtesy: Baseball-Reference)
"I love living here," said Stanton, a second-round pick in the 2007 draft. "I'm very comfortable here. This is a place where I want to make a stamp and make something Miami hasn't seen before."
After finishing up his introductory press conference, Stanton issued a personal message to Marlins fans on Instagram, promising them "something special" in the years to come.