The Miami Marlins continue to be one of the most mysterious MLB clubs. The latest controversy surrounding them deals with starting pitcher Jose Fernandez, who has been the subject of trade rumors as the team's relationship with his agent, Scott Boras, continues to worsen.
Fernandez reportedly rejected a contract extension offer from the Marlins earlier this month, team president David Samson told the Miami Herald. Shortly after that at the general managers meetings, Samson told the media that Boras would not be involved in any talks between the team and Fernandez regarding the pitcher's workload for 2016 (he returned in the middle of 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery).
"He will not be involved in any discussion as it relates to Jose Fernandez," Samson told reporters last week. "We will be in touch with the doctors and Jose as we formulate a plan."
Their relationship has been on the rocks ever since the Marlins demoted Boras' other client, Marcell Ozuna, to the minor leagues in the middle of the season. Boras openly criticized the team for making such a move, and ever since then Ozuna was the subject of trade rumors as well.
Yesterday it was reported Fernandez is the latest Marlin involved in such rumors.
Growing sentiment around Baseball and internally with the @marlins is Jose Fernandez will be traded this offseason.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) November 17, 2015
However, Samson all but officially refuted that report.
"We do not comment on trade rumors," he told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "Some players are more likely to be traded than others. Jose fits in the latter category... He is a Marlin for at least the next three years and hopefully longer and we look forward to the start of the 2016 season."
Considering we've already seen a number of trades since the World Series concluded, let's keep the fun going. Maybe Fernandez gets traded, maybe he doesn't. Either way, it's fun to speculate. What MLB teams would consider the 23-year-old?
3. New York Yankees
General manager Brian Cashman conducted business with the Marlins last offseason when he traded Martin Prado and David Phelps for Nathan Eovaldi and Domingo German. If the Fernandez rumors continue to gain traction, will Cashman give Miami a ring?
New York is in pursuit of pitching as there's plenty of uncertainty surrounding their rotation heading into 2016. Will Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia stay healthy? How is Eovaldi's elbow holding up after he was shut down in September? What is Ivan Nova's future with the team? Will Adam Warren take over as a full-time starter or remain in the bullpen?
If the Marlins won't pay Fernandez (or a winning team around him), then the Yankees certainly will. New York has been working hard to build up their farm system, but players such as Fernandez don't come around too often, so maybe Cashman would be willing to give up some prospects. Fernandez is also under club control through 2018, meaning he won't cost an excessive amount until 2019 or be a burden to the payroll for another three years.
2. Chicago Cubs
If Chicago signs a high-profile starter and Fernandez becomes available, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer should throw the farm (literally) at the Marlins. Maybe even take Ozuna in the deal to entice them even further (the Cubs need a center fielder any way).
Imagine a rotation of David Price (assuming he signs there), Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Fernandez? That would all but guarantee them a World Series within the next few years.
The Cubs could offer up some of their plentiful prospects and even Jorge Soler. Javier Baez and Starlin Castro would be of no use to Miami due to the presence of Dee Gordon and Adeiny Hechavarra in the middle infield, but prospects such as Billy McKinney, Albert Almora, Ian Happ, Carl Edwards Jr. and/or Pierce Johnson could interest the Marlins.
Miami could then shift Christian Yelich over to center field and see what Derek Dietrich can do in left.
1. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox need an ace and Fernandez fits the bill in terms of talent and youth. Dave Dombrowski is not afraid to make trades, as we saw when he sent four prospects to the San Diego Padres last week in exchange for Craig Kimbrel. Boston has plenty of young talent left even after that deal and would probably be open to make another big trade despite his recent comments.
Miami might want some MLB talent, and Boston has that too. What if the Red Sox were willing to eat a large portion of the salaries owed to Pablo Sandoval and/Hanley Ramirez? Both would be a hit in Miami due to the large Hispanic population in the city. As for MLB-level pitching, Clay Buchholz, Wade Miley and Joe Kelly might interest the Marlins as well.
The possibilities are endless with Boston, which is why we think they'd be the most compatible trade partner if the Marlins were to seriously consider trading Fernandez.
Nonetheless, keep an eye on updates regarding trade rumors involving Fernandez as the offseason progresses.
