Yes but the reason that you try to find a Stanton is because it's extremely difficult to develop one. I don't think one person on this board has said include Xander in a deal for him. However if the Marlins come to you tomorrow and say give us Owens, JBJ and someone else you would almost have to say yes. Since the steroid era occured one of the hardest things to find is a true power threat. Especially one that is 24 years old. That doesn't grow on trees. Is he Trout? No but he's a young slugger who hasn't even hit his prime and even if he has a slight improvement you're looking at a 40 homer RF that isn't awful in the field.The Boomer said:
Which is why they got lucky spending so much money in competition with the Yankees back then. That was fools gold. They were later pretty unlucky with the group of mercenaries who were much better on paper than in the field until they were exiled in the Punto trade. Theo, at the end, forgot that trying to match the Yankees dollar for dollar was foolish. Cherington got much more for his money from all the acquisitions before the 2013 season. Nevertheless, he seems determined not to repeat Theo's mistakes. The strategy of developing a solid homegrown base is much better for the franchise. The Sox can more cost effectively use their financial advantage to extend as many of their keepers as possible before they reach free agency while acquiring veterans (by free agency or trade) to plug those gaps that the organization can't fill from within during any particular year. Rather than trade for Giancarlo Stanton, it's better to find your own (Bogaerts?) and extend them during their prime years of production (though Boras clients are tough signs). Middlebrooks should get his chance but, if he falters, Cecchini is not far behind in their pipeline. The Sox reload from season to season to exploit their financial advantage against most other teams (excepting the Yankees and Dodgers) rather than rebuild from scratch. The only way for that to work is to continuously keep replenishing their talent with younger players (preferably those who you find, sign and develop yourself). The smaller market teams can retain or replace their best veteran talents much better than they could even a decade ago. The gap between the haves and have nots narrowed after the new collective bargaining agreement. The plans that worked in 2004 won't work in 2014.
It's the front office job to determine who has the best skill set to help the Sox at the next level and which players are best served as bait. I personally think a guy like Cecchini is best served as bait if WMB rebounds. Due to the fact his defense may push him to the outfield and he doesn't really project offensively as anything other than an average outfielder. Granted if he sticks at 3B then the game changes a bit. It's up to Ben and company to determine all this. The only downside with someone like Stanton is his injury history. If this guy ever stayed healthy for 150+ games there is no possible way he doesn't hit 50 in Fenway. None.
He will become the highest profile player the Marlins have traded since Miguel Cabrera. Think the Tigers wish they kept Miller and Maybin instead?