Jose Fernandez and the Miami Marlins appear to be destined for a divorce by the time the hard-hurling right-hander hits free agency in 2018.
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Fernandez Expected to Command $30 Million Per Year
Sunday, Feb. 14
The Marlins believe Fernandez and agent Scott Boras will seek a deal worth $30 million per year when the ace becomes a free agent in 2018, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
The team has “no plans to meet” the hefty figure, per Jackson.
Fernandez has twice turned down extension offers since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2014. The first was a six-year, $40 million offer, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, then working for CBS Sports.
Adam Klug of CBS Sports Radio thought there was no chance that Hernandez and Boras would accept such an offer:
Fernandez turned down another a multiyear offer for an undisclosed amount in November, less than four months removed from his return, according to Jackson.
The Marlins then shopped Fernandez at the winter meetings in December, but their asking price was reportedly too high, per Joe Frisaro of MLB.com (via Chris Cwik of Yahoo Sports).
Less than a week later, Fernandez declined to comment when asked if he thought the Marlins could compete in 2016 and if he wanted to remain in Miami.
Fernandez is reportedly upset with the slew of trades the team made in the summer—notably dealing starting pitchers Dan Haren and Mat Latos—as well as the firing of pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, per Jackson, who elaborated on the situation:
If the Marlins are winning a lot and in serious contention the next two seasons, they could hold onto him through at least the midpoint of 2018. Otherwise, they figure to trade him within a year of free agency, perhaps after 2016 if this upcoming season is an unmitigated disaster. At $2.8 million, he remains a bargain for 2016.
Fernandez still has three full seasons of club control remaining. But $30 million per year is a steep price for any player—particularly for a club with the third-lowest payroll in MLB.
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