As free-agent starting pitchers continue to come off the board, the expectation for trades to take place at Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings grows.
Shelby Miller of the Atlanta Braves and Sonny Gray of the Oakland Athletics have been speculated as prime candidates to be dealt.
The Dodgers reportedly have interest in Miller, but don’t wish to include Joc Pederson in a deal.
Amid reports of unrest between Jose Fernandez and his Miami Marlins teammates and front office, it was rumored in late-November the ace would be made available for trade.
Some of that belief and expectation cooled in the following days and weeks, though the Dodgers and Marlins discussed a trade on Sunday, and while Miami reportedly has high demands in exchange for Fernandez, they may be more willing to trade the young right-hander than they’ve let on, via ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
But as the winter meetings got underway Sunday, they were talking to the Los Angeles Dodgers — and at least two other teams — about potential blockbuster deals involving Fernandez, sources say. … But even that stance indicates that Fernandez isn’t as untouchable as the Marlins have suggested publicly. And that has at least opened the door for the Dodgers to explore dealing for Fernandez in the wake of losing Zack Greinke to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Additionally, the Dodgers may be willing to part with prized left-handed prospect Julio Urias to acquire Fernandez:
Few teams, however, would match up better with the Marlins than the Dodgers, who might be willing to include their top pitching prospect, Julio Urias, if it gave them the opportunity to trade for Fernandez, whom they could control for three more years and whose 160 Adjusted ERA-Plus is the best, through his first three seasons, of any starting pitcher in the live-ball era.
As has often been the case when the Dodgers, powered by a creative and determined front office, are mentioned in trade rumors, one executive believes Fernandez will wind up in Los Angeles if ultimately traded:
“I don’t know if they’ll wind up trading him,” said an executive of one club that spoke with the Marlins. “But if they do, I’m betting that’s where he goes — to the Dodgers.”
Fernandez was 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA, 2.24 FIP, 1.16 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts to 14 walks. He managed to make just 11 starts (64.2 innings) as he missed the early stages of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Fernandez was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2013, finished third in Cy Young voting that season, and made his first All-Star team.
He’s a career 22-9 with a 2.40 ERA, 160 ERA+, 2.52 FIP and 1.01 WHIP in 47 starts. More impressively, Fernandez is 17-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 192 strikeouts in 167.2 innings over 26 lifetime starts at Marlins Park.
Miami will be led by former Dodgers manager Don Matingly next season. His staff will include former Dodgers coaches Lorenzo Bundy and Tim Wallach, and former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds.
Fernandez was one of multiple injuries the Marlins dealt with last season, which played a role in them finishing a disappointing 71-91 after winning 77 games in 2014.
One bright spot was Dee Gordon, who became the first player to win a Gold Glove, lead the Majors in stolen bases and win the batting title in the same season.
