When one player in a baseball team’s clubhouse become a nuisance, chances are he will be shipped out at the first decent opportunity. With reports surfacing Marlins pitcher José Fernandez has been a disruptive force in the clubhouse, Marlins president David Samson says he is not prepared to deal Fernandez in exchange for the best possible offer. Not yet, at least.
“We’re definitely not shopping Jose Fernandez, not a chance. He’s not available,” Samson told Jeff DeForrest in a radio interview on 940-AM WINZ on Thursday morning (as transcribed by Andy Slater). “I don’t see it as possible of him going anywhere, but teams come up with some crazy ideas, so it’s our responsibility to always listen.”
So, the Marlins are open to trading Fernandez? Perhaps if they are made an offer they can’t refuse.
Tensions between the Marlins and the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year were brought to the forefront recently by Slater, who reported Fernandez addressed the Marlins front office as though they are children. Slater followed up that original report by outlining Fernandez’s continued and growing desire to be traded. Per Slater, Fernandez would go up to Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill and directly ask when he will be traded. Fernandez also defies club rules put in place by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, including one about not wearing hooded sweatshirts during batting practice.
FOX Sports baseball insider Ken Rosenthal doesn’t see a trade being a smart move for the Fish. In fact, Rosenthal was pretty blunt in saying trading Fernandez would be the dumbest move the Marlins have ever done. Per Rosenthal;
If the Marlins traded Fernandez, they would break their fans’ hearts (again), anger right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (again) and almost certainly compromise their chances of competing in 2016.
Oh, and the Marlins also could jeopardize their chances of renegotiating their TV contract with FOX Sports, which expires in ’20. I have zero idea where those talks stand, even though I work for FOX. But I do know that networks like stars and, ahem, winning teams.
Changes are coming to the Marlins. The hiring of Don Mattingly as manager was a move desired by Loria as he hopes to turn things around for the franchise. Having a manager capable of calming the most hot-headed of players is a key for any potential winning club. Whether Mattingly will be able to soothe Fernandez remains to be seen, just as it remains to be seen if Mattingly gets a chance to patch the relationship between the Marlins and Fernandez.
Fernandez is coming off an injury-shortened 2015 season. After starting the season on the 60-day disabled list as he recovered from Tommy John surgery from 2014, Fernandez made his season debut for the Marlins in June and pitched in 11 games. He went 6-1 in those 11 games, with 79 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched and a 1.160 WHIP and 2.92 ERA. Fernandez is eligible for arbitration in 2016 and is locked in with Miami through 2018. Last year Fernandez was paid $651,000.
