Major League Baseball hot stove fans had a monster Monday with several high-profile deals and signings.

The Miami Marlins led the way inking all-star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a 13-year, $325 million contract - the biggest contract in American professional athletics history. That averages out to around $25 million per season, and includes a no-trade clause for the 25-year-old Stanton, the first in club history.

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So eager were the Marlins to re-sign their star they gave him an opt-out clause after six years. That's typically a bad deal for a team since players with bad years will keep their contracts while those with great years may choose to test free agent markets.

The contract topped the 10-year, $292 million mega-deal first baseman Miguel Cabrera, a former Marlin, signed last year with Detroit Tigers.

Stanton's 2014 season ended on a hurtful note when he was drilled in the face by an errant pitch, missing the final 17 games. Nonetheless, his 37 home runs and .555 slugging average led the National League.

Elsewhere in the league, the Atlanta Braves sought out youth as they sent star outfielder Jason Heyward and relief pitcher Jordan Walden to the St. Louis Cardinals for promising starter Shelby Miller and prospect Tyree Jenkins, each a former first round draft choice.

Miller slots right into the Braves rotations while Heyward takes an outfield spot that would have been occupied by Oscar Taveras, a potential Cardinals star who tragically died in a car accident last month.

The Toronto Blue Jays were also in the mix as it signed catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract. Known as a high character players great at handling pitching staffs and with a solid bat to boot, the 31-year-old Candian returns to his home country after batting .290 with 11 home runs and 67 RBIs for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season.

Martin secured a significant raise from his free agent $8.5 million contract with the Pirates signed last year. The team made a $15.3 million qualifying offer. Under MLB rules, that means they'll get an extra choice between the first and second rounds of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.

Tagsmlb, beaseball, mike stanton, jason heyward, russell martin, trades, braves, marlins, blue jays