text: According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins, in discussions for Giancarlo Stanton, are focused on some combination of Tyler Beede, Chris Shaw, Heliot Ramos and Aramis Garcia, four of the Giants' top 10 prospects. He batted.259 with seven homers and 20 runs batted in in 2017.
  Cardinals officials are reportedly set to meet with Stanton's representatives in LA on Friday, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Through the use of his no-trade clause, however, Stanton has the power to box the debt-ridden Marlins into a very hard decision: Keep him and his $295 million contract into the 2018 season, or make a less than ideal trade with a team with which he wants to play. The Giants would have to pick up the vast majority of the $295 million remaining on Stanton's contract for this deal to work. So far, the Giants and Cardinals are the only teams to submit offers to acquire the reigning NL MVP.
  Earlier reports suggested that Stanton's preference would be to go home - meaning to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  The Dodgers already have contract issues and if they acquired Stanton and took on most of his money, they would be seriously over the luxury tax ceiling of $197 million.
  Stanton also is said to be open-minded to listening to ideas.
  It has been reported that hard-throwing righthander Sandy Alcantara, who finished last season in the majors, was one of the prospects the Cardinals had discussed with the Marlins but that has not been confirmed.