Giancarlo Stanton is one of the best hitters in baseball who gets the least recognition because of the market he plays in. Let’s be honest, if Stanton was playing in a city like New York, Washington, Boston, or St. Louis, this guy would be a household name, not just someone fans marvel at during the All-Star break. Well, the Marlins have made it clear that they are listening to offers for their top player, and teams are lining up to bid.

Cardinals early favorites to land Stanton?

Bleacher Report indicates that the St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly emerged as an early favorite to land the reigning MLB home run champion in a trade with the Miami Marlins.

FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman noted the Cardinals are a serious "prime player" in the Stanton sweepstakes along with the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. Unlike the Giants or Phillies, the Cardinals could have the early advantage over any team interested in Stanton because they have much more to offer in terms of top-tier pitching prospects.

While the Cardinals may have the most to offer in prospects, the Red Sox have the cash available and the possibility to deal a top player in return. ESPN is reporting that Boston could also be a strong player in obtaining Stanton this offseason.

Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski took the blame for not providing enough pop in the Red Sox lineup in 2017 and he wants that to change.

With possible extra cash to spend, you can bet that Stanton is on Dombrowski’s Christmas wish list.

"I didn't supply the players that would give us enough runs [in 2017]," Dombrowski said. "I think we do need that. That's part of our offseason goal."

Stanton makes a ton of money, however, taking a shot on the 28-year-old slugger is something many contending teams are willing to do.

Stanton is in his prime and could actually play for 5-7 more seasons at a very high level. Last season, the big man finished the season with 59 home runs and 132 runs batted in.

JD Martinez pricing himself out of the market?

Slugger JD Martinez is looking for a Stanton type of deal, but are teams willing to bite? Martinez, who hired agent Scott Boras, is reportedly asking for a huge deal which has some people raising their eyebrows.

ArizonaSports.com reported that Martinez is looking for a payday north of $200 million. Whether or not he gets that much, Martinez should get his best payday ever as a pro. JD hit 45 home runs and drove in 104 while hitting .303 in 2017. He is one of the best players available on the market right now, but is he worth $200 million? Currently, the Boston Red Sox are reportedly the front-runners to land Martinez.