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The Marlins raised the Jose Fernandez price even higher
Tuesday’s Say Hey, Baseball includes Jose Fernandez trade rumors, the Mets’ finances and the timing of a painful Red Sox trade.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Jose Fernandez was already going to be expensive in trade. From the Dodgers, the Marlins wanted Corey Seager, Julio Urias, Joc Pederson and more. From the Red Sox, Miami asked for Mookie Betts, top prospect Yoan Moncada, Eduardo Rodriguez, Christian Vazquez and “another pitcher.” They had asked the Diamondbacks for much of what would eventually land them Shelby Miller, plus a whole lot more, but it’s that Miller deal that now has their Fernandez expectations set even higher. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins have raised the price for Fernandez after seeing what Miller brought back, and he was already impossibly expensive in the first place.
Previously, you could argue that Fernandez would be worth the cost to the right team, one who had assets to spare and was an ace away from making a possible World Series run. They’re asking for huge chunks of the major-league roster from the Dodgers, Red Sox and others, though, not just prospects, and that was before Miller went down: it’s hard to even imagine what the cost is now, but it can likely be summed up as “prohibitive.”
And that’s fine for the Marlins, who do not need to trade their young, cost-controlled ace. Fernandez shouldn’t go away for anything less than an exorbitant return that helps propel the Marlins back into contention. There is no rush to trade one of the most talented arms in the game, one they have control of for the next three years, and it’s worth pointing out that Rosenthal reported that the Dodgers and Marlins are staying in contact about Fernandez even with the reported price increase. So, a deal isn’t likely, but even the teams unwilling to give up as much as they’re being asked to still want to keep in touch. You know, just in case things change.
- MLB isn’t being played right now, but the Venezuelan Winter League is, and it served up a ridiculous bat flip on a game-winning grand slam.
- The Cardinals are reportedly nearing a deal with free agent starter Mike Leake after missing out on David Price and Jason Heyward while losing John Lackey to the Cubs.
- Mike Matheny is not a fan of Jason Heyward’s reasoning for leaving the Cards for the Cubs.
- The Royals could use Alex Gordon, but can they afford to re-sign him?
- The Red Sox haven’t yet made the promised “painful” trade Dave Dombrowski warned about. That deal could come at the trade deadline, depending on how 2016 is going.
- Brandon Phillips declined to go to the Nationals, so what do the Reds do with their longtime second baseman now?
- The Pirates have had a perplexing offseason, especially when compared to what the Cubs have been up to.
- Mets’ ownership is drowning in loans and using team revenues to pay off their creditors. So, at a time when they should be fortifying the lineup to support their fantastic young rotation, they are instead paying off bills and hoping for the best on the field.
Reviewing 2015: It was just a great f**king year in sports
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