Despite recent rumors swirling about the Marlins looking to trade ace Jose Fernandez or Fernandez asking to be dealt himself, both sides say they’re looking to continue their relationship in 2016. At a recent charity event, Fernandez told reporters (including MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro) that he’d heard about the trade speculation but “I’m not paying attention to it at all….I really don’t have no time to look into that stuff. It’s not important to me.”
“I’m looking forward to being with my teammates and winning some ballgames. Get ready to go to Spring Training healthy and have a nice long year with the boys. Hopefully we get the opportunity to win the World Series. That’s the main goal. That’s what the city deserves and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Sources within Marlins management saw a Fernandez trade as doubtful a few days ago, and Frisaro hears (Twitter link) that the righty will indeed be staying put. In a recent appearance on the MLB Network, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman said that teams who contacted the Marlins about Fernandez were told that the ace isn’t available.
Any number of “unavailable” players have been dealt over the years, of course, so it’s possible the Marlins are simply trying to give themselves extra leverage in trade talks and thus drive what’s already sure to be a high asking price for Fernandez even higher. If Miami really did want to trade Fernandez, this offseason may not be the best time for it — the righty was limited to just 64 2/3 innings in 2015, missing half the season recovering from Tommy John surgery and then another month with a bicep strain in his throwing arm.
This shortened workload will mean that Fernandez will pitch under an innings limit in 2016, and interestingly, the 23-year-old said that Scott Boras, his agent, will indeed play a role in how that limit will be determined. Marlins president David Samson said last week that Boras wouldn’t have a say in Fernandez’s workload, though the right-hander himself said that Boras was already involved in such discussions last year and “it’s worked perfectly fine. We all agreed. We’re all on the same page.”
“I do not know what all this is all about, but Scott Boras will be there because he’s my agent, and I get to decide who is going to be on my phone calls on my conference. It’s that simple.”
Even an inning-capped version of Fernandez would still be attractive to virtually every team in baseball, should the Marlins decide to make him available. On the flip side, Miami hopes to be contender itself in 2016 and dealing an ace wouldn’t help an already-questionable Marlins rotation. The Fish could try to get Major League-ready pitching in return for Fernandez, though on paper, a team with such arms to spare wouldn’t necessarily be the best trade partner for Fernandez.
Even if they get three can’t miss guys and 2 very good ones in return it’s hard to see the fans stomaching a Fernandez trade. That trade might break them.
Moncada, Owens, Shaw might appease them
I would highly doubt that.
Would you be highly doubting that because you don’t have three prospects like that in your organization?
Lol
I’m thinking more so something like Swihart, Devers, JBJ, Johnson/Owens, and a couple lottery tickets but it all depends on how Miami views Realmuto.
I don’t want to see the Red Sox get involved with this kid, being the Boston is in perpetual win now mode, i’m not sure an innings limit is going to fly with the Fanbase
They end up signing one of Price, Greinke, Zimmermann, or Cueto and it’s fine. Fernandez is amazing when healthy. If they manage his innings for next year, that is fine. He will still contribute a ton of value. If they sign one of the big four it means they don’t have to worry as much about having to limit Fernandez’s innings so long as they make sure he will be allowed to pitch in the playoffs.
This kid? If he was up for grabs and went to another team and the Red Sox didn’t make an offer I’d never forgive them. He’s a very, very special pitcher.
That’s not
The fans? No it really wouldn’t. It’d probably take Moncada, Benintendi, Espinoza, Devers and they’d still be upset.
Why does that city deserve a World Series? Smh
Lololol
Lol at the Marlins
Not with the prospect names that are being thrown around
Legit not a fan of Marlins rn
Thank god
Based on the reports that have come out, they’re giving it a 25% chance he starts opening day for the Marlins. Personally, I can tell that if he isnt traded this offseason, he will be traded in the middle of the season or next offseason. The reports on Ozuna are way stronger, and as I have said since before the season ended, he will 100% be moved. That became all the more obvious with the “Loria cant stand him” report
This is my version of what I think has been happening. Obviously, I dont have any inside info, but this is what I’m reading from the reports, by looking in between the lines and using my Marlins experience to help me
The Marlins approached both Marcell Ozuna and Jose Fernandez for an extension last offseason. Both being in a situation where it didnt make any sense to sign one, declined that opportunity. Jeffrey Loria then became “insulted” and incensed by the situation. When Ozuna came to camp, and he wasnt in great shape, that only made Loria all the more angrier. When Scott Boras called the Marlins out on what they did with Ozuna, this took Loria to new levels of anger and saltiness, partly b/c he was called out on exactly what he was doing. With that being the case, the Marlins then approached Jose Fernandez about finding a new agent, and leaving Scott Boras, or strictly negotiating with them on all contract matters. This is when Jose started to realize what type of organization he was in, and who was running it. Obviously, knowing that it makes no sense to leave Boras, and knowing how the Marlins treated Ozuna, he realized that there is only 1 solution, and also realized that the Marlins knew this as well. This is why he reportedly approached Michael Hill and asked him when he was being traded. He knew it was happening. With Jose not wanting to leave Boras, this put him on Loria’s list as well.
First, the Marlins will attempt to trade Ozuna. If they dont entirely trade him for 25 cents on the dollar, they will be attempting to get a young, controllable SP (kind of like one of the young, controllable SPs we gave away a year ago). After that is accomplished, they will look to trade Jose Fernandez. They will ask the Dodgers about Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager, and one of their young SPs in the minor leagues. I personally dont see them getting Puig or Seager from the Dodgers, as they have repeatedly turned down those guys in trade talks for obvious reasons. Instead, I think they could get Julio Urias (b/c they would be getting Jose in the deal), 1 of the other top pitching prospects, and then someone like Austin Barnes (I know. I know.), and probably another piece like Scott Schebler. From the Red Sox, they will ask for Yoan Moncada and Rafael Devers, as well as Anderson Espinoza. I doubt they can get that from them. They’ll ask the Cubs about Addison Russell, and will be turned down, so they will ask about Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Pierce Johnson, and something else. Then they will decide on whether they should trade Fernandez for one of those packages now, or wait until mid-season or next offseason, where they can possibly get a similar package, as well as be able to tell people they arent trading Fernandez this offseason, and then tell everyone afterward that they kept their word on that
If you dont see the obvious, I would be surprised. They’re literally making attempts to put him down in the media (saying that Jose isnt the same person in front of and behind cameras). This last calendar year, Loria brought out a lot of his old school stuff, and has taken some things to new levels. Its really hard to stay a fan of this team, when the organization is so shady