Marlins president denies team is banking on Stanton opting out of contract

The Miami Marlins guaranteed Giancarlo Stanton a record-breaking $325 million over the next 13 years. 

Whether Stanton elects to cash in on the total sum is up to him.

Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill reiterated that point Sunday in response to a report from Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that suggested the team is planning on Stanton exercising the opt-out clause in his contract.

In the report, Biertempfel references a recent conversation Pittsburgh Pirates president Frank Coonelly claims he had with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and president David Samson.

From the Tribune:

"They thought it was a great deal," Coonelly said. "I just couldn't get my head around the $325 million. They said to me, 'You don't understand. (Stanton) has an out clause after six years. Those first six years are only going to cost $107 million. After that, he'll leave and play for somebody else. So, it's not really $325 million.'"

The implication from Coonelly is that the Marlins signed Stanton to a record-setting deal with the expectation that he will bolt when it's only halfway complete.

Hill addressed the report Sunday on MLB Network Radio:

"We signed a lifetime deal with Stanton," Hill said. "There are certain provisions we have no control over ... We've made a $325-million commitment. I really didn't understand (Coonelly's comments), but I really don't know the context of it."

At the time of the signing, Stanton and the Marlins explained the contract was structured in a way that would allow the club to build a winner around him. Multiple reports have said the team has already engaged several of its young players, including pitcher Jose Fernandez, in preliminary talks on contract extensions.