Marlins rumors: Right time to trade Giancarlo Stanton?

After blowing up his team with this winter's fire sale, Miami Marlins owner Jeffery Loria is labeling outfielder Giancarlo Stanton as "absolutely not available." However, one Marlins operative told Bill Madden of The New York Daily News that now is the right time to trade Stanton.

No matter what Loria says from his owner's seat, Madden believes that everyone is available. In his opinion, the only thing that determines how long Miami will listen is the quality of the offer they receive.

But Loria also has to consider the continued backlash of fans and Major League Baseball. He's already garnered the reputation of being one of the worst owners in the game, and trading away the team's 23-year-old face-of-the-franchise certainly won't help him shake that title.

Loria's current public standing is one reason the unnamed source that spoke with Madden believes now is the right time to move Stanton. He asks how much more can the team "get killed" and says Stanton's "never going to have more value" than he currently does. While it's basically a given at this point provided the franchise's recent track record, the source adds Miami is "never going to sign him to a long-term deal."

Stanton put together a career-year in 2012, hitting .290/.361/.608 with 30 doubles and 37 home runs over 510 plate appearances. In three years in the majors he owns a career batting line of .270/.350/.553.