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Stanton told Marlins he couldn't be 'forced somewhere' with trade

Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports

Warning: Story contains coarse language

The Miami Marlins traded Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees in early December after more than a month of bad blood between the slugger and new ownership, and the reigning National League MVP recalled the unceremonious exit on Tuesday.

"This is not going to go how you guys think it will go," Stanton recalled saying to Michael Hill and Derek Jeter during a half-hour meeting, according to an interview with Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated. "I'm not going to be forced somewhere, on a deadline, just because it's convenient for you guys.

"I've put up with enough here. Derek, I know you don't fully understand where I'm coming from. But Mike does," Stanton continued, alluding to previous owner Jeffrey Loria. "He's been here. He can fill you in. This may not go exactly how I planned. But it's definitely not going to go how you have planned."

Regarding his candid discussion with the pair of Marlins executives, Stanton said, "I didn't want any proper business talk, any buffering. Let's just get it out, raw, the real shit."

Prior to getting traded by the Marlins, Stanton signed a 13-year contract in 2014 worth $325 million that included a full no-trade clause. Upon purchasing the club from Loria, however, Bruce Sherman and Jeter opted for fiscal responsibility and began a full-scale rebuild, attempting to shed all long-term salary. Along with the Stanton trade, the Marlins traded away Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich, and Dee Gordon this winter.

After the half-hour meeting, Reiter reports that Hill, the general manager, was still hopeful Stanton would approve a deal with the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals, who were both heavily involved in their pursuit of the prized slugger. However, he was unwilling to budge and waive his no-trade clause to land with any other team but the four he preferred: The Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, or Yankees.

Of course, once Hill engaged Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, the rest quickly became history. Stanton recalled getting a call from his agent Joel Wolfe and immediately saying, "Let's do it." After being asked if he needed a night to sleep on it, Stanton replied, "If you want me to take a night, I'll take a night. The answer's going to be the same. Do it."

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