Are the Dodgers still the biggest threat to get Giancarlo Stanton?

Could the Los Angeles Dodgers still swoop in and complete a trade for Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton? That’s the question many are asking now that it appears Stanton is nearing a decision on his next destination. And it’s a possibility the Dodgers biggest rivals, the San Francisco Giants, are reportedly fretting over.

According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, the Giants expect a decision from Stanton on whether he’ll waive his no-trade clause to play for them by week’s end. That means we could know exactly where Stanton is going within the next 24-48 hours. It was Pavlovic who also reported that the Giants fear the Dodgers could still emerge with a trade offer that gets the Marlins attention during that timeframe, thus damaging their chances.

The Marlins have reportedly agreed to the framework of a trade with both the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. That means the only thing standing in the way of either being completed is Stanton waiving his no-trade clause. And therein lies the basis of San Francisco’s concern. Stanton holds all of the cards. He can dictate which way this goes, and there are plenty of reasons to believe he would prefer the Dodgers should they jump into the mix.

Of course, most prominent on that list is the fact Stanton is from Los Angeles. A homecoming would be difficult to turn down, especially when it entails returning to a market as broad as Los Angeles. Beyond that, the Dodgers are well positioned to compete throughout the prime years of Stanton’s career. At 28, he’s ready to play for a team committed to winning. The Dodgers definitely fit that bill.

The problem for Stanton is that the Dodgers haven’t exactly gone all-in to acquire him. Would they love to have him? Sure. Every team would. But the money seems to be a real concern for them.

The Dodgers have long been willing to spend money. But with $295 million remaining on Stanton’s contract and the team seemingly not keen on paying luxury tax now and possibly throughout the length of a deal that ends after 2027, they haven’t been aggressive.

There still might be a scenario where it makes sense for the Dodgers, but the reality is that would entail moving other contracts. How ready or willing will a team coming off a 104-win season be to make those necessary moves? We’re guessing not very. They’ve won without Stanton. They’ll continue winning without him. It just doesn’t seem like the cost would be worth it to them, but only the Dodgers know for sure if that’s true.

The looming possibility is still enough to make the Giants uneasy. We don’t blame them one bit for having those concerns. But until the Dodgers give us a real indication they’re ready to dive into the Stanton Sweepstakes completely, we feel like the Giants remain the team best positioned to finally land the difference-making bat they’ve long sought.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Yahoo Sports

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