LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Before accepting a trade to the Yankees that became official Monday, Giancarlo Stanton was never presented with an opportunity to accept a trade to his hometown Dodgers, his agent said Monday.
"[The Dodgers] were never able to make a deal with the Marlins," said Joel Wolfe. "So, we were never presented with them as a viable option. That's about all I can say."
Stanton -- with $295 million and 10 years left on a contract that included a no-trade clause and an opt-out after 2020 -- was dealt by the Marlins to the Yankees. Wolfe said Stanton preferred to stay in Miami, until new Marlins executive Derek Jeter told him the club was rebuilding and was determined to dramatically reduce payroll. During last season, Stanton told the Marlins he would approve a trade to the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs or Astros.
Stanton rejected proposed trades to San Francisco and St. Louis last week, hoping for a deal to the Dodgers that never came. Because of luxury tax add-ons that would have increased the Stanton liability to $500 million, the Dodgers reportedly were insisting that the Marlins eat at least $100 million of the contract, which would have defeated the purpose of the Marlins moving Stanton.
Wolfe said even if a Dodgers deal had been presented to Stanton, his acceptance was not guaranteed.
"[Stanton] said, 'If the Dodgers come, I'm going to have to sit down with them and go through the same machinations and ask a million questions, and ask them what's going to happen with [Clayton Kershaw] and the pitching staff and what direction is the team headed?'" Wolfe said.
Kershaw has an opt-out clause in his contract after the 2018 season.
Wolfe also represents free-agent pitcher Yu Darvish, whom the Dodgers are interested in re-signing. But like reliever Brandon Morrow (another Wolfe client), who has agreed to a two-year, $21 million deal with the Cubs, Darvish might have priced himself out of the Dodgers' comfort zone. He reportedly is seeking a five- or six-year deal worth $150 million or more.
"We believe he is the best starting pitcher on the market, or in any capacity, whether it's trade or free agency," Wolfe said of Darvish. "Hopefully, this is a busy week, but he is very patient. You look at what other aces did in the playoffs, he helped get the Dodgers to the World Series. I think is value is extremely high."