Yankees acquire Giancarlo Stanton from Marlins

Christmas came early for many New Yorkers when they woke up to the news that the Yankees are set to acquire slugger Giancarlo Stanton. USA TODAY Sports

Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning National League MVP, will be traded to the New York Yankees in a blockbuster deal, according to a baseball official with direct knowledge of the deal.

The trade is still pending Stanton's approval, according to the person, but that is expected to be a formality, as the Yankees were one of four teams for which he was willing to waive his no-trade clause. The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the trade has not been finalized.

In a stunning transaction that marks a vast turn from the Yankees' recent goals of financial austerity, New York adds the premier right-handed power-hitter in the game and suddenly has the major leagues' two leading home run hitters - Stanton, who slugged 59 home runs for the Miami Marlins, and AL Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge, who hit 52.

Now, both towering sluggers will take aim at Yankee Stadium's tempting right-field porch thanks to a deal - brokered in part by Yankees legend Derek Jeter - that will have ramifications for the next decade.

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The Athletic and Fan Rag Sports first reported that the Marlins and Yankees have reached agreement on the parameters of the trade. The New York Post reported that the deal includes a mix of veterans - including second baseman Starlin Castro - and non-blue chip prospects.

If it's similar to other deals the Marlins had in place, the Yankees will be prepared to absorb around $250 million of the $295 million left on Stanton’s contract over the next 10 years.

Stanton will become the second MVP to be traded the following off-season, the first since the Yankees acquired Alex Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers after the 2003 season - a move that also involved Jeter, who remained the Yankee shortstop while A-Rod moved to third base. He's now a part-owner of the Marlins.

The Yankees were one of four teams Stanton was open to a trade. The other three were the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros — all league championship finalists in 2017.

Stanton, who just turned 28, had a full no-trade clause. He earned the NL MVP by the narrowest of margins after a career season in which he slugged 59 home runs, the highest total in the majors since 2001, and drove in 132 runs.

On Friday, both the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants declared they were out of the running for Stanton. Each team had an agreement set with the Marlins to acquire Stanton, but he didn't waive his no-trade clause to accept either trade.

Stanton's preference was the Dodgers, who are coming off a World Series appearance and happen to be his hometown team.

He is the second All-Star to be dealt by new Marlins owners Bruce Sherman and Jeter in less than a week. The Marlins traded second baseman Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners for three prospects.