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Miami has tried to extend Jose Fernandez multiple times. Both times he has been coming off the same injury, and both times he has rejected the proposal. At this point, extending Jose Fernandez might not be realistic.
Fernandez rejected a multi-year deal the Marlins offered him "in the months before he returned from Tommy John surgery," according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Jackson was also told by President David Samson Fernandez "does not appear interested in being presented with another offer."
Although Fernandez will not become a free agent until after the 2018 season, the Marlins appear to be determined to extend members of their young core. After signing Giancarlo Stanton to a large deal last November, the Marlins have reportedly considered extending Fernandez, Dee Gordon and Adeiny Hechavarria.
While extensions for Gordon and Hechavarria might be realistic, it seems there is a good chance one for Fernandez will not be. Samson told Jackson the deal did not get done because of an issue with the value of the contract. That is where Fernandez's representation comes into play.
Fernandez is represented by Scott Boras, who more often than not encourages his young stars to test the free agent market and receive notably extensive deals. Some organizations, such as the Nationals, appear to be on good terms with Boras. The Marlins might not be, specifically after keeping Marcell Ozuna in Triple-A for an extended period of time this summer.
When he is healthy and on the mound, Fernandez has proven to be one of the best starters in the game. Over 64.2 innings last season, he pitched to a 2.92 ERA and 2.24 FIP. Before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014, Fernandez pitched to a 2.44 ERA over 51.2 innings. Having Stanton and Fernandez locked up could provide stability for the Marlins moving forward.
Miami reportedly attempted to extend Fernandez last winter, so the second attempt is significant. The club is determined to lock Fernandez up, and that too is worth noting. The Marlins are trying, but Fernandez and Boras are not listening.
Fernandez was coming off of Tommy John surgery when both deals were proposed. He had not taken the mound yet and could have received a large deal. Instead, he opted to wait. Fernandez was plagued by a shoulder injury toward the end of 2015 and that could affect his performance moving forward.
Perhaps it is best for the Marlins that Fernandez does not accept an extension. But for the sake of consistency within the rotation, it would still be ideal.