Derek Jeter: 'I Had No Feeling' About Trading Giancarlo Stanton to Yankees

Miami Marlins co-owner and CEO Derek Jeter spoke about the decision to trade Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon, noting there was nothing he would have done differently in the trade talks, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Jeter, who spent the entirety of his playing career with the Yankees, added that his history with the organization had nothing to do with the deal.

"I had no feeling about trading him to the Yankees," Jeter said. "I wanted the best deal."

There will be questions as to whether Jeter in fact got the best deal, however, and even if he did, whether it was enough of a return for the defending National League MVP.

The Marlins received Starlin Castro, minor league pitcher Jorge Guzman and minor league infielder Jose Devers for Stanton and will also "send $30 million to the Yankees if Stanton doesn't exercise his right to opt out of his contract and become a free agent after the 2020 season: $5 million each on July 1 and Oct. 1 in 2026, 2027 and 2028," per the Associated Press.

That the Yankees were able to deal Stanton without giving up any of their top prospects, including Gleyber Torres—the No. 2 prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com—was considered a steal for the Bronx Bombers.

Regardless, a trade at some point was inevitable once it became apparent that Jeter's plans for the Marlins didn't jibe with Stanton's desires for his own career, per Sherman:

"We spoke about the direction of the team," Stanton said of his meetings with Jeter and the front office, per Gabe Lacques of USA Today. "I wanted us to go forward and advance with the pitching staff. I thought our lineup was legit and we needed help with our pitchers, to add and not subtract. The way they wanted to go was subtract. It's almost a guaranteed losing season to take away from that lineup."

Stanton also ended up exercising his no-trade clause.

"I gave my list of teams prior to [trade negotiations]," Stanton noted. "They went to San Francisco and the Cardinals and struck deals with them. I was open to listen to them, but those were not my teams. Those are great people; they were great meetings and culture there, but that just wasn't the fit for me."

That didn't mean the Marlins didn't try to use any leverage they could muster, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com:

It was an easy enough bluff to call, of course, as Stanton has an opt-out clause in his contract following the 2020 season.

The next decade for both the Yankees and Marlins could be defined by this trade. Stanton could help lead the Yankees to several titles. Failing to receive an elite package of prospects and talented players in exchange for a defending MVP could set the Marlins' rebuild back. The end of Stanton's career and the beginning of Jeter's tenure with the Marlins will be forever linked.