It’s not a mystery that the Miami Marlins need a lot of help in order to stabilize any kind of hope of being able to compete this Major League baseball season, let alone try to draw any kind of a fan base to Marlins Park. After acquiring and then letting go of such high profile names as Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio to the Toronto Blue Jays, as well as Heath Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the only well-known names who remains on the squad from the 2012 season are Logan Morrison, who has yet to play this season and Giancarlo Stanton, who looks to be the biggest catch of them all. Stanton, otherwise known as “create a player” to Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price, is the most coveted name who could appear on the trading block before the July 31st trade deadline after the All-Star break. However, many reports have been released by the Marlins who have told the public that the team is “not interested” in trading the power-hitting centerfield no matter what offers are being sent their way. Need I remind everyone that this is also the same team who virtually conned the city of Miami into building a gaudy multi-million dollar stadium in Little Havana and fired their eccentric manager Ozzie Guillen and dumped payroll after one season.

During spring training, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson did his best to orchestrate a trade between the two teams which would have sent top prospects Zack Wheeler, a right-handed pitcher, and catcher Travis d’Arnaud to the Marlins. On paper, at least, the offer seemed pretty legit, and the timing really couldn’t have been any better for the Mets to take advantage of the fire sale the Marlins had all ready set in motion a few weeks prior. But alas, the Marlins didn’t bite. Since then the talks have gone cold, but the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers both seem to be the front runners in the Stanton sweepstakes. Looking at what both teams all ready have in place, it would appear that the Rangers are in the most need of Stanton, especially considering that the Red Sox reloaded handsomely in the offseason after first acquiring manager John Farrell in a deal with the Blue Jays. Farrell so far has revived the Red Sox pitching rotation and gotten solid at-bats out of returning outfielders Daniel Nava and Jacoby Ellsbury as well as some decent starts from offseason acquisition Shane Victorino. Only Jonny Gomes hasn’t quite played up to snuff since getting signed to a two-year $10 million deal. Unless the Red Sox are thinking of getting rid of one or more of these guys, possibly even prospect Jackie Bradley, Jr., I don’t really understand why their even considering making this deal while everything appears to be going well for them so far this season.

As for the Rangers, they could certainly use the help. Nelson Cruz is the only reliable power-hitter they currently have in their lineup after the departure of Josh Hamilton to the Los Angeles Angels in the offseason. Cruz has only gone yard four times, while David Murphy has only crushed twice. Mitch Moreland has left the yard three times thus far, but the Rangers have utilized him more as a platoon first baseman/designated hitter with Lance Berkman who has been hot this season. The Ballpark at Arlington is too good of a hitter’s paradise to let it go to waste, which the Rangers have certainly been doing. If GM Jon Daniels can somehow sweeten a deal with the Marlins by possibly giving up a top prospect or two, I could honestly see this going down are the home stretch, but I also feel that a lot of it will rely upon where the Rangers sit in their division around the All-Star break. As of now they are a half –game ahead of the Oakland Athletics who are currently one of the most productive teams, offensively, this season and are leading the Majors in scoring.

One thing that is for sure, is that Stanton is looking to make a cool $537,000 this season and is up for arbitration in 2014. With his talent, the Marlins’ true colors may emerge and look to dump him for this reason alone, which will more than go to show that they are not serious about contending in seasons to come. As much as they want to say that they’re “not interested” in letting their star go, there has been little on their end to prove that they have any intention on keeping him around. Stanton will be a free agent come the end of the 2017 season if things continue they way they are, but he and we would all be foolish to think that $537,000 a year is more than adequate. Stanton will definitely get paid handsomely in 2014 and beyond, but I honestly don’t believe that he’ll be receiving it from the Marlins.