Making the Case for the Marlins to Trade Giancarlo Stanton in July

The Miami Marlins can't be very motivated to trade Giancarlo Stanton by July 31. He makes $537,000 this season, his last before reaching arbitration, so it won't help them financially. If anything, attendance at Marlins Park could dip even further without Stanton in the lineup and they could actually lose money.

So if saving money is a priority, they could just trade him before next season, when he'll make at least $5 million, in my estimation.

In addition, the number of teams with the resources to make a trade of this magnitude will increase in the offseason when all 30 teams are hopeful of being contenders again. For example, the Astros have more elite prospects (5) than any team in baseball, according to Baseball Prospectus' midseason prospect rankings, and the Cubs will have four if top draft pick Kris Bryant signs.

But as non-contenders, it's unlikely their focus is on acquiring Stanton unless their strategy is to get a jump on the offseason.

Lastly, it might not be the best idea in the world to trade a 23-year-old with three years left of team control and superstar potential who's already established as one of the most-feared home run hitters in the game for a package of unproven players. At least not before it's absolutely necessary.

Stanton's light-tower power is rare. While it's easy to think he'd be more valuable on a team that doesn't play its home games in such a pitcher-friendly park, he can hit the ball out of any ballpark. Employing one of the few players in baseball who isn't affected by the spacious confines of Marlins Park—he hit 16 long balls at home in Year 1 of the ballpark's existence—is actually a good strategy.

In fact, it's probably a good enough reason to build the team around Stanton and do whatever it takes to sign him to a long-term deal that will keep him in Miami until he's at least 30 years old, when he could be approaching the 400-home run mark.

The problem is that the organization alienated Stanton and the Marlins fanbase—their average home attendance of 17,262 is last in baseball and down 10,000 per game from 2012—when they traded three of their best players to the Blue Jays this past offseason. The 6'6" slugger isn't likely to sign a long-term extension until the Marlins show a willingness to invest in the major league roster again.

And the organization might not want to start adding lucrative salaries to the payroll again with fans staying away from a brand new stadium.

If owner Jeffrey Loria isn't planning on adding significant dollars and veteran talent to the roster anytime soon as he did prior to the 2012 season, it could make sense to focus on building a strong farm system.

The Astros and general manager Jeff Luhnow are getting a lot of praise with their rebuilding efforts after trading away most of the team's best players in 2012, including Chris Johnson, Carlos Lee, Brett Myers and Wandy Rodriguez. They didn't trade away a young player of Stanton's ability, but Luhnow may have considered it if he thought it would make his team better two or three seasons down the road.

So here's the question. Will the Marlins be better off in 2015 with Stanton in the lineup or with the three top prospects he could net them in a July trade? Here's a look at a Marlins roster with Stanton and a Marlins roster after each of three potential July trade scenarios.

Be sure to discuss your preferred choice in the comments section. 

2015 Marlins Lineup with Giancarlo Stanton

Here's a look at a 2015 Marlins team (lineup and rotation only) that includes Stanton, current teammate Logan Morrison and top prospects Christian Yelich (pictured) and Jake Marisnick. 

Lineup (*left-handed hitter; **switch-hitter)

1 Jake Marisnick, CF (.871 OPS, 10 SB in 45 Double-A games)
2 Colin Moran*, 3B (sixth overall pick in 2013 draft)
3 Christian Yelich*, LF (top prospect; .861 OPS in 41 Double-A games)
4 Giancarlo Stanton, RF
5 Logan Morrison*, 1B
6 Derek Dietrich*, 2B
7 Rob Brantly*/J.T. Realmuto, C
8 Adeiny Hechavarria, SS

Starting Rotation

1 Jose Fernandez, RHP (20-year-old rookie has a 2.98 ERA in 15 starts)
2 Jacob Turner, RHP (22-year-old has 1.97 ERA in 5 starts)
3 Andrew Heaney, LHP (ninth overall pick in 2013 draft; 1.19 ERA in 30.1 High-A innings)
4 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
5 Justin Nicolino, LHP (2.49 ERA in 14 High-A starts)

2015 Marlins Lineup: Stanton to Pittsburgh Trade Scenario

Here's a look at a 2015 Marlins team (lineup and rotation only) after a July trade that would send Stanton to the Pirates for starting pitchers Jameson Taillon (pictured) and Nick Kingham, center fielder Gregory Polanco and catcher Tony Sanchez.

The lineup obviously suffers without Stanton, but the one-two punch of Fernandez and Taillon at the top of the rotation could be one of the best young starting pitcher duos in recent memory.

Lineup (*left-handed hitter; **switch-hitter)

1 Gregory Polanco*, RF (.841 OPS, 27 SB in 65 games between Double-A/High-A)
2 Colin Moran*, 3B (sixth overall pick in 2013 draft)
3 Christian Yelich*, LF (top prospect; .861 OPS in 41 Double-A games)
4 Logan Morrison*, 1B
5 Jake Marisnick, CF (.871 OPS, 10 SB in 45 Double-A games)
6 Tony Sanchez, C (.951 OPS in Triple-A)
7 Derek Dietrich*, 2B
8 Adeiny Hechavarria, SS

Starting Rotation

1 Jose Fernandez, RHP (20-year-old rookie has a 2.98 ERA in 15 starts)
2 Jameson Taillon, RHP (2.93 ERA in 14 Double-A starts)
3 Jacob Turner, RHP (22-year-old has 1.97 ERA in 5 starts)
4 Andrew Heaney, LHP (ninth overall pick in 2013 draft; 1.19 ERA in 30.1 High-A innings)
5 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP/Nick Kingham, RHP

2015 Marlins Lineup: Stanton to Texas Trade Scenario

Here's a look at a 2015 Marlins team (lineup and rotation only) after a July trade that would send Stanton to the Rangers for shortstop Jurickson Profar (pictured), starting pitcher Martin Perez and two lower-level prospects, catcher Jorge Alfaro (.776 OPS, 10 HR in Low-A; All-Star potential) and center fielder Lewis Brinson (14 HR, 12 SB in Low-A; 30-30 potential), who aren't expected to be in the majors by 2015.

This 2015 team isn't as strong as the one after the Pittsburgh trade, but the two lower-level prospects could be considered elite and closing in on the big leagues around this time.  

Lineup (*left-handed hitter; **switch-hitter)

1 Jurickson Profar**, SS (Top ranked prospect in baseball coming into the season by Baseball Prospectus)
2 Colin Moran*, 3B (sixth overall pick in 2013 draft)
3 Christian Yelich*, LF (top prospect; .861 OPS in 41 Double-A games)
4 Marcell Ozuna, RF (.768 OPS in 49 MLB games)
5 Logan Morrison*, 1B
6 Jake Marisnick, CF (.871 OPS, 10 SB in 45 Double-A games)
7 Rob Brantly*/J.T. Realmuto, C 
8 Adeiny Hechavarria, 2B

Starting Rotation

1 Jose Fernandez, RHP (20-year-old rookie has a 2.98 ERA in 15 starts)
2 Martin Perez, LHP (59th-ranked prospect in baseball coming into the season by Baseball Prospectus)
3 Jacob Turner, RHP (22-year-old has 1.97 ERA in 5 starts)
4 Andrew Heaney, LHP (ninth overall pick in 2013 draft; 1.19 ERA in 30.1 High-A innings)
5 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP 

2015 Marlins Lineup: Stanton to Boston Trade Scenario

Here's a look at a 2015 Marlins team (lineup and rotation only) after a July trade that would send Stanton to the Red Sox for shortstop Xander Bogaerts (pictured), starting pitchers Anthony Ranaudo and Allen Webster, and a lower-level minor leaguer with upside.

Bogaerts has big-time potential from a premium defensive spot, where he's starting to change minds about his ability to stay at the position long-term. The rotation could be stacked if Webster and Ranaudo continue to progress as they have in 2013. 

Lineup (*left-handed hitter; **switch-hitter)

1 Jake Marisnick, CF (.871 OPS, 10 SB in 45 Double-A games)
2 Colin Moran*, 3B (sixth overall pick in 2013 draft)
3 Christian Yelich*, LF (top prospect; .861 OPS in 41 Double-A games)
4 Marcell Ozuna, RF (.768 OPS in 49 MLB games)
5 Logan Morrison*, 1B
6 Xander Bogaerts, SS (20-year-old has an .887 OPS between Triple-A and Double-A)
7 Rob Brantly*/J.T. Realmuto, C 
8 Adeiny Hechavarria, 2B

Starting Rotation

1 Jose Fernandez, RHP (20-year-old rookie has a 2.98 ERA in 15 starts)
2 Allen Webster, RHP (2.98 ERA in 10 Triple-A starts)
3 Jacob Turner, RHP (22-year-old has 1.97 ERA in 5 starts)
4 Andrew Heaney, LHP (ninth overall pick in 2013 draft; 1.19 ERA in 30.1 High-A innings)
5 Anthony Ranaudo, RHP (2.28 ERA in 14 Double-A starts)