The Los Angeles Dodgers just won't quit. According to the latest rumors, the team is still discussing a trade with the Miami Marlins that would send starter Jose Fernandez to the West Coast.
FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reported the ongoing talks earlier today, but he noted a deal is not close. Previous rumors indicated the Dodgers may have been inching closer to a trade for Fernandez after they acquired prospects Frankie Montas, Trayce Thompson and Micah Johnson from the Chicago White Sox last week.
However, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said although the deal may have improved their "trade capital to match up with other teams," it was "not necessarily a precursor" to another deal.
Still, one must wonder, especially after ESPN Insider Jim Bowden proposed a potential trade between the Dodgers and Marlins involving Fernandez. He suggested Los Angeles trade outfielders Joc Pederson and Scott Van Slyke as well as prospects Julio Urias and Jose De Leon to Miami in exchange for Fernandez and outfielder Marcell Ozuna.
The Dodgers can keep inquiring all they want, but there are also a lot of reports out there suggesting the Marlins are not going to move Fernandez unless they get the exact return they want. It was said they are looking to get 5-6 MLB-ready players in any deal for the right-hander, which would more than likely significantly set back the club acquiring Fernandez.
"It's still hard to see the Marlins trading Jose Fernandez, a 23-year-old superstar," writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. "While the Dodgers have the need and interest, unless they want to trade Corey Seager (they don't, much to Marlins manager Don Mattingly's dismay ...
"The Dodgers don't have the type of young major leaguers to tempt the Marlins."
"Dodgers lefty wunderkind Julio Urias is an exceptional talent, but he would be hard to sell as the centerpiece of a trade for an established young superstar."
Nonetheless, Miami certainly has some incentive to trade Fernandez. His agent is Scott Boras, who typically does not have his clients sign extensions before they hit free agency, so the Marlins are at risk of not keeping him beyond the 2018 season. With that being said, the team can maximize the return for the right-hander if they deal him sooner rather than later because the value of cost-controlled players is unprecedented in baseball right now. Three full seasons of Fernandez could get the Marlins a considerable return that would improve their MLB roster right now.
However, Fernandez is the Marlins' ace, and with a talented core the team probably figures to be contending in the fairly weak NL East since the Mets and Nationals have arguably gotten worse since last season after losing a number of free agents.
Nothing can be ruled out at this point, but it's going to take a lot to sway the Marlins to move one of their franchise players.
