The Miami Marlins are reportedly looking at a Jose Fernandez trade at the winter meetings and teams like the NY Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks have been connected as potential landing spots. According to Jason Stark at ESPN, sources have said that Fernandez is available despite the Marlins coming out and saying publicly that he is not being shopped.
Stark reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees "are all know to have spoken about Fernandez" with the Marlins and that there also is a "mystery team" involved. Stark reports that the mystery team is likely the Houston Astros, but that has not been confirmed. Jon Heyman at CBS Sports reports that the Marlins would want "5 or 6" players in a trade for Fernandez and would want some to be "MLB ready" in the deal.
The 23-year-old Fernandez is considered to be one of the top young starters in baseball and he still is relatively cheap while on his current contract. The Marlins have said that Fernandez is not being shopped with team president Michael Hill saying that Fernandez is "not available," but Stark reports that sources said the team was "making progress" in a trade with an "unidentified club." Fernandez has put up strong numbers in his short career with a 22-9 record while posting a 2.40 ERA and 336 strikeouts in 47 starts.
On Monday Stark reported that it would be a "long shot for any team to complete a trade" for Fernandez, but things appear to be moving a bit now, even though that doesn't mean a trade will end up happening. The Marlins want a big haul for Fernandez and reports on Monday had the team asking the Dodgers for Corey Seager, Scott Van Slyke and Julio Urias in a deal. Fernandez previously has had Tommy John surgery, but he was able to return this season.
The Marlins may not end up trading Fernandez, but after an offseason of reports about Fernandez's attitude and issues with his agent Scott Boras, the team may try and see what they can get in a package. The Marlins likely would want at least two high level prospects in any deal along with some major league ready players and some teams may not want to give up that much. The Yankees have talked with the Marlins, but Brian Cashman has been reluctant to trade top prospects over the past couple years.