According to a Miami Herald report, the Marlins would prefer to trade right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, second baseman Dee Gordon and third baseman Martin Prado before next season, if they are able. The club has not confirmed the report.
If they were able to deal all three without including cash in the deals, the Marlins would cut nearly $50 million in salary obligations and get them near a reported target of $90 million in payroll for 2018. With no cost-cutting moves, they would likely be near $140 million.
Stanton's name has swirled in trade rumors since well before season's end. He is due $25 million next year and has 10 years and $295 million remaining on his contract, meaning that dealing him could be ambitious given the slew of chips that would need to fall -- starting with his full no-trade clause.
The National League MVP Award candidate has said he does not want to be part of a rebuild, and for the Marlins to make it worth their while, they'll seek a bevy of prospects in return. MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the Giants, Phillies and Cardinals are among a handful of teams that expressed interest this summer in Stanton, who finished with 59 homers.

With a thin free-agent market at second base this winter, Gordon offers intrigue, but he carries a cost of $10.8 million in 2018, $13.3 million in '19 and $13.8 million in '20, with a $14 million club option in '21. Among the second basemen set to hit the market include a throng of mid-30s veterans, such as Neil Walker, Brandon Phillips and John Forsythe, among others.
Prado could be the most difficult to move given the limited number of clubs in need of a third baseman and the $28.5 million he's due the next two seasons. There could also be injury and age concerns, as the 34-year-old played in just 37 games and hit a career-worst .250 this season.