Giancarlo Stanton Introduced By Yankees

MIAMI, FL — Giancarlo Stanton, the home run smashing, once-in-a-generation Miami Marlin made his first appearance as a Yankee on Monday afternoon.

"This is going to be a great new chapter in my life and in my career," Stanton said, wearing a Yankee hat and jersey. "I'm just looking forward to stepping up and being with this winning environment and winning culture. I'm happy to be here."

MLB.com, the official site of Major League Baseball Network reported over the weekend that the parameters of a deal between Derek Jeter's former team and his new house were "done."

Stanton said he was looking forward to being part of the Yankees organization. "There's not much you could say of why you wouldn't want to be there," he acknowledged to reporters at a 2 p.m. news conference. "They strike from everywhere and they're well balanced."

Stanton's parting words for Marlins fans: "I would say to hang in there. They're hurting," he conceded. "They're going to go through some more tough years but I would advise them not to give up."

MLB.com also reported that Yankee second baseman Starlin Castro will be headed to the Magic City along with two prospects. The Yankees reportedly will pick up the remaining $295 million on Stanton's contract less $30 million. You may recall Castro from the American League All Star Team that took the field at Marlins Park over the summer.

Stanton finished the 2017 season one swing short of 60 home runs, but he managed to clinch the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in November with two votes left to spare. Stanton was the first player in Marlins history to win the sport's highest individual honor.

He said that he had a meeting with new Marlins owner Derek Jeter but let it be known that he didn't want to be part of another rebuilding year in Miami. "I thought our lineup was legit and we need help with our pitchers and we needed to add rather than subtract," Stanton explained. "The way they wanted to go was to subtract. I let that be known I didn't want to be part of another rebuild, another losing season. That's almost a guaranteed losing situation, taking away what I thought was a great lineup."

With his move to the Big Apple, Stanton will be teamed with fellow home run king Aaron Judge, who finished the 2017 season with 52 home runs, second only behind Stanton.

The 1966 Giants were the last team to start a season with the top two home run hitters from the previous season. That team included Willie Mays, who hit 52 home runs the prior year and Willie McCovey who hit 39 during the 1965 season.

Stanton said he spoke with Judge several days before the deal was announced. "We're excited to get better together and use our talents together because we are very similar," he said. "We're going to learn from each other and make each other better."

Stanton racked up more homes runs and RBI than any other hitter in all of Major League Baseball during the 2017 season with 59 and 132 respectively.

Stanton's 13-year, $325 million contract in November 2014 was the largest in all of sports when it was signed.

Watch a compilation of some of Stanton's 2017 home runs:

News of the trade was met over the weekend with applause in New York and righteous indignation by Marlins fans. Jeter is clearly off to a shaky start on winning back Marlins fans as he pledged to do when he purchased the team at the end of the 2017 season along with businessman Bruce Sherman.

Here's a sampling of reaction from the Twittersphere :

Video courtesy Major League Baseball and the Miami Marlins. Giancarlo Stanton reacts to fans in the last game of the 2017 season at Marlins Park on Oct. 1 in Miami. (Photo by Joe Skipper/Getty Images)