A sizzling day in the hot stove season, more on Miller and wondering about Wieters

The temperature soared on baseball's hot stove yesterday with news that the Marlins signed Giancarlo Stanton to a 13-year extension worth $325 million, the largest contract in the history of sports, the Blue Jays signed free agent catcher Russell Martin and the Braves traded outfielder Jason Heyward to the Cardinals for pitcher Shelby Miller.

Pitchers Jordan Walden and Tyrell Jenkins also were involved in the deal, but Heyward-for-Miller was enough to grab the attention of the baseball world.

I kept reading how the Cubs were the frontrunners for Martin. So, of course, he signs with the Blue Jays.

No trade or signing was going to be big enough to trump the Stanton extension. It's almost beyond comprehension.

Remember how the industry reacted in November 1976 when the Yankees signed Reggie Jackson to a five-year contract worth $2.96 million. Jackson supposedly broke the bank. Now that figure wouldn't leave a smudge.

Ten days earlier, the Orioles lost pitcher Wayne Garland after the Indians handed him a 10-year contract worth $2.3 million. Garland won 20 games in his final season in Baltimore, but he lost 19 in his first summer with the Indians.

Garland injured his arm in his first spring training game and went 28-48 with a 4.50 ERA in five seasons.

If the 1976 Indians gave Stanton an extension worth $325 million, they'd have to spread it out over 1,625 years.

While the Orioles maintain interest in reliever Andrew Miller, so does just about every other team in baseball. The count currently stands at 22, according to CBSSports.com.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette met with Miller's agent, Mark Rodgers, last Wednesday at the general managers' meetings in Phoenix, but the Orioles didn't get any closer to an agreement. Miller wants a minimum of four years and you have to figure he's going to get it.

The Blue Jays have been "very aggressive" in courting Miller, according to Sportsnet's Jeff Blair, which makes me flash back to B.J. Ryan.

Ryan signed a five-year, $47 million contract with the Jays in November 2005 after notching 36 saves in 41 opportunities with the Orioles and making the American League's All-Star team in his first season as closer. He was one of the most coveted free agents on the market and the Orioles couldn't touch Toronto's offer.

Ryan's deal was the largest for a reliever in major league history, but he didn't live up to it despite saving a career-high 38 games in his first season. He underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow in May 2007, had 32 saves in 2008 and was released in July 2009 with his ERA at 6.53 in 25 appearances and the closer's job no longer in his possession.

A shoulder injury proved more damaging than the torn ligament in his elbow, and he never again pitched in the majors.

The Jays still owed Ryan approximately $15 million when they released him.

Unlike Ryan, Miller hasn't been a closer for any team. His only career save came on Sept. 7 against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

The market for Miller is sizzling because teams either project him as a ninth-inning specialist or are willing to pay big for a dominant set-up man. Right-handers hit .145 against him and left-handers hit .163. He averaged 1.8 walks and 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

The man is going to get paid.

Martin will be paid $82 million over five years. He turns 32 in February. The Yankees gave catcher Brian McCann a five-year, $85 million contract last winter. He turns 31 in February.

The Giants are paying Buster Posey $167 million over nine years after the sides agreed to the extension in the spring of 2013. He turns 28 in March.

So what exactly is Matt Wieters worth? I suppose we'll have a better idea after the 2015 season, his first following ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. He turns 29 in May.

In his last full season before the injury, Wieters batted .235/.287/.417 with 29 doubles, 22 home runs and 79 RBIs in 148 games. He was hitting .308/.339/.500 with five doubles, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 26 games this season before succumbing to the elbow injury. He owns two Gold Glove Awards and is a three-time All-Star.

Martin batted .290/.402/.430 for the Pirates this season, with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 67 RBIs in 111 games. He won a Gold Glove in 2007 with the Dodgers and is a three-time All-Star.

What kind of deal can Wieters expect now that Martin has signed? Take your best shot.