San Francisco Giants: How they can afford the Giancarlo Stanton contract

Yesterday, a rumor surrounding the San Francisco Giants and Giancarlo Stanton broke for the umpteenth time in the last few weeks. But for the first time in a while, it was something that actually seemed helpful, or was new information.

One thing that was certainly the biggest part of the Giancarlo Stanton rumors was how much the San Francisco Giants would be willing to take on in his contract. It could be a hefty price to pay for most of the contract, but the San Francisco Giants were rumored to be offering the most relief for the Marlins. Then yesterday’s news hit.

According to Craig Mish, MLB Sirius XM host, in an Interview with Tim McKernan and The Morning After Show on St. Louis’ 590 The Score, the San Francisco Giants would be willing to take on Giancarlo Stanton’s contract IN ITS ENTIRETY. That’s a chunk of change.

From @CraigMish on @TMASTL re: #STLCards and #Stanton: I have been told the #SFGiants are willing to take on the entire contract, and that makes the Giants the favorites right now with the Cardinals in second place. I think the Giants are all-in until the end to get Stanton.
— Tim McKernan (@tmckernan) November 29, 2017

Of course, the quick reactions from those frugal minded and skeptical Giants fans, was negative. I mean, it is a chunk of change. It’s nearly $295 million over the next eleventy billion years. Yes, that means the Giants would have to do some serious payroll shredding this offseason if they wanted to get under the tax line (they don’t care, especially if it means Stanton comes to town). Besides, the Giants are currently nowhere near the $40 million dollar-over-the-luxury-tax-mark.

According to COTS, the Giants are currently projected at $9.5 million dollars below the luxury tax line for next year (including arbitration and minor league 40-man contracts). Stanton’s AAV is roughly $25 million a year. So that makes them roughly $15 million over the line, way below the $40 million mark. Why does that $40 million mark matter? Their #2 overall draft pick becomes #12. But the long term is truly the concern, right? Well fear not folks.

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Again, according to the COTS projections for the Giants, they’ll be around $88 million under the Luxury Tax line starting in 2019, not factoring in salary arbitration numbers and obviously any added or shed contracts. If you want to factor in arbitration numbers, Stanton’s contract certainly fits under that, and so does even a Bumgarner extension.

You could also include a Joe Panik extension and arbitration buyout, and still have wiggle room. Again, that doesn’t take into account any other contracts added or shed. But the number continues to get bigger for the Giants. In 2020, the COTS projections have the Giants at $90 million under the tax line, and then $125 million under the tax line in 2021, should he choose not to exercise his opt-out.

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The Giants have plenty of money to keep Stanton around for the long term should he chose to come to San Francisco in a trade. If they want to add anything beyond him, they’ll have to shed a few big contracts, which is easier said than done.

The San Francisco Giants have a lot of money, and they have the current setup to keep Stanton around for a while. If he wants to come, they’re more than happy to have him, and that big ‘ole contract of his.

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