Trade rumors surrounded Miami Marlins starter Jose Fernandez earlier this offseason when reports suggested the relationship between the team and the right-hander was a bit rocky. A deal is unlikely to get done this offseason or even during the 2016 season, but one could be coming in the next couple of years.
Fernandez, 23, is scheduled to hit free agency after the 2018 season. He'll be part of yet another stacked class of MLB free agents, which means his price tag will not be low. The right-hander will earn $2.8 million in 2016, but he'll reportedly be looking for a mammoth contract with his agent, Scott Boras, once he's a free man.
Both he and Boras have had their tiffs with the Marlins in recent seasons, which is a big reason as to why such rumors have surfaced this offseason.
"A friend of Jose Fernandez said among the things that upset Fernandez about the Marlins were the team's trades last summer and the removal of pitching coach Chuck Hernandez (replaced by Juan Nieves). The friend said former Marlins player Jeff Baker soured Fernandez and others on the front office," writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
"But Fernandez and the Marlins will make this work until free agency (after 2018) or an eventual trade. The Marlins are under the impression that his representation wants $30 million a year when he becomes a free agent, a figure they have no plans to meet."
The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of the teams looking to acquire Fernandez earlier this offseason, but the Marlins reportedly wanted an "absurd haul" of players. Additionally, as Jackson also notes, the Fish are clearly hoping to compete in the near future based on their signings this offseason. The club inked second baseman Dee Gordon to a five-year extension and signed starter Wei-Yin Chen to a five-year contract as well. If they hope to make a run at an NL East title with new manager Don Mattingly, they'll need Fernandez atop the rotation.
Despite making only 47 starts at the MLB level, Fernandez's future contract is already a topic of discussion. He's 22-9 with a 2.40 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 336 strikeouts in 289 innings. Next season will be his first full campaign following Tommy John surgery, which he underwent during the 2013 season.
As with Bryce Harper, it appears as if many are forgetting both of these youngsters need to stay healthy and continue to produce at a high level if they want such mammoth contracts once they're eligible for free agency. Fernandez made his MLB debut in 2013 and won the NL Rookie of the Year, but he hasn't made more than 11 starts in each of the last two seasons, and yet his future free agency contract is seemingly a hot button issue despite that being three years away.
Fernandez could very well be the highest-paid pitcher in his free agent class, but he still has three seasons to perform and build his resume before we can really starting discussing that. If he continues to produce and pitch at an elite level, he will undoubtedly earn more money than the Marlins are willing to pay, so the team could very well consider a trade within the next 2-3 seasons.
