He’s established himself as baseball’s most prolific power hitter. He’s the face of the Miami Marlins and the likely National League MVP, yet a trade out of South Florida appears to be a legitimate possibility for Giancarlo Stanton.

Of course, getting Stanton’s 13-year, $325 million contract off the books would free up the Marlins’ front office operations, but waving goodbye to a once-in-a-generation star is no way to rebuild into a contender — or to start a new and intriguing ownership tenure for Derek Jeter, Yankees legend and brand-new Marlins owner.

So, Derek Jeter, don’t trade Giancarlo Stanton.

Don’t trade a guy with the highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in the National League — someone who leads baseball in home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage. Don’t trade a Marlins legend — a player whose thrilling chase to 60 home runs kept the franchise relevant in the waning days of September even after a playoff appearance was out of the question for the 14th consecutive year. Don’t part ways with a franchise cornerstone who holds the Major League record for hardest-hit ball (122 MPH) in an era in which speed, power and strength are valued and measured with precision.

Mr. Jeter (or can I call you Derek?), when Stanton signed his $325 million contract, it cashed in in as the richest in American sports history. Stanton had to prove himself, and demonstrate that he was worth the mounds of cash with which Jeffrey Loria, your predecessor, supplied him. After a few injury-ridden seasons, Stanton has established himself as one of the faces of baseball — an MVP candidate, a home run machine and a franchise cornerstone for Miami.

Derek, look around the majors, and look at the champions. You know a thing or two (or five) about winning those. Your Yankees teams had franchise players — you and A-Rod. The 2016-champion Cubs: Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. The Royals boasted Eric Hosmer in 2015. Before them, it was Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner’s Giants winning it all.

To contend, to win, you need a star. Lucky for you, you have just that in Stanton. So don’t let him go.

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Stanton’s contract is really backloaded. This year, Stanton made $14.5 million for his services. By 2023, he’ll be raking in $32 million. Clearly, that’s a lot of money — but a once-in-a-lifetime talent like Stanton is worth the financial blow.

Derek, I know the Marlins aren’t knocking on the door of the World Series, but it’s a team just a few moves away from contending, much like the Angels, with their superstar, Mike Trout. Trout’s contract, like Stanton’s, is backloaded — he’ll be making over $33 million a year starting next season. But Billy Eppler and the Angels would scoff at the idea of trading their future Hall-of Famer, as should you, Derek.

If you want to show a Marlins team which has been depleted by salary-unloading trades that the franchise is finally committed to winning, hold onto Stanton. Remember, the Marlins once had Miguel Cabrera, Derrek Lee, Mike Piazza, Adrian Gonzalez, Dontrelle Willis, Moises Alou, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell — all of whom were traded.

In the November 3, 2003 issue of Sporting News1, following the Marlins’ 2003 title, Tom Gatto wrote of a soon-to-be failed Loria promise in 2003:

“Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria has vowed not to dismantle the franchise after winning the World Series,” Gatto wrote. “And even if he would want to, the turnover would pale in comparison to the infamous fire sale ordered by former owner Wayne Huizenga and executed by then-general manager Dave Dombrowski beginning in November 1997. A lot of big-name players were exiled from south Florida back then.”

After the 2003 title, Loria copied the 1997 groundwork, executing another fire sale of sorts. What has followed is a 14-year playoff drought and one of the worst-attended ballparks in America. Mr. Jeter, don’t repeat past mistakes.

But yet, there are naysayers.

“Trading Giancarlo Stanton would not be something I would equate with prior organizations as far as firesales after World Series wins (in 1997 and 2003),” ESPN host Karl Ravech said on Baseball Tonight. “This team has not been very good at all. … I don’t think there’s enough to build around Stanton to suggest that they’re gonna be a playoff or World Series-contending team. So I think you trade him, and Derek Jeter builds his own identity with the Marlins.”

Ravech is right — in one way. Trading Stanton isn’t the same as the Piazza trade of ‘98 or the Cabrera/Willis trade of ‘07. But it’s close. The Marlins are off the radar in the minds of many Marlins fans, and their 28th-ranked attendance suggests just that. After the tragic loss of All-Star pitcher Jose Fernandez last year, Stanton is all the Marlins have now. And sending him packing pushes the team even more off the minds of South Floridians.

It just can’t happen. For goodness’ sake, he hits a dinger every 10 at-bats. And more often than not, it’s a SportsCenter-worthy behemoth of a home run that keeps the Marlins on the eyes of the nation.

So Derek, please don’t trade Giancarlo Stanton. Pretty please (with a cherry on top)?