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Jose Fernandez’s $30 Million Asking Price Could Land Him on Trade Block

By Jacob Kornhauser

Oct 1, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) reacts at the end of the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) reacts at the end of the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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For any MLB team, $30 million for one player is a huge sum. For a team like the Miami Marlins, it’s impossible to meet a figure like that. The suspicion that starting pitcher Jose Fernandez will be seeking more than $30 million in free agency, therefore, may force the Marlins to trade the star pitcher.

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The team is unlikely to contend this season, so trading Fernandez now, when he still has three years left on his deal. Someone his age and with his superstar stuff will command a gigantic return.

When healthy, 23-year-old Fernandez has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.               Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
When healthy, 23-year-old Fernandez has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.               Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Fernandez’s career has been thrown off by injuries, but when he’s been playing, he’s been among the best pitchers in MLB. In 26 career home starts, the righty is 17-0 with a 1.40 ERA. Of course, he’s unlikely to keep those numbers up, but if he feeds off of the home crowd, he could have similarly dominant numbers in his new home.

It would make sense for some contenders to trade the farm for Fernandez despite his injury history. Getting three years of one of the league’s best pitchers in his prime is worth the risk. In him, you instantly get an ace and someone who can single handedly win you games.

Now, it is clear the Marlins won’t try to retain Fernandez, especially after signing star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a record 13-year extension. That means the pitcher may have thrown his last pitch in a Miami uniform.

If that’s the case, the Marlins better hope they get a handful of players in return to put on Marlins jerseys who will contribute to the team’s success before Fernandez hits the free agent market in 2019.

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