Miami Marlins: Top prospect Jose Fernandez signs with Agent Scott Boras

Miami Marlins fans have feared the worst when it comes to Giancarlo Stanton‘s immediate future with the Marlins. The consensus around baseball is that the Marlins and Stanton will not be able to come to agreement on a contract extension, and Stanton will likely be traded by next off-season, at the earliest.

Feb 22, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins player Jose Fernandez (78) poses for a picture during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Turns out, Stanton is not the only player that Marlins fans should start counting down the clock till they are traded. Miami Marlins top prospect, Jose Fernandez has signed with agent Scott Boras. Shortly after the end of the 2012 season, the two sides met and decided that a partnership would be in their best interest.

"“We are very excited about having Jose,” Boras confirmed to MLB.com on Wednesday night. “He has the potential to be a future ace.”"

Fernandez was ranked the number 7 overall prospect in baseball by MLB.com and number 5 by Baseball America.

Between Class A Greensboro and advanced Class A Jupiter last year, Fernandez combined for a 14-1 record with a 1.75 ERA. Fernandez piled up 158 strikeouts in just 134 innings. The Marlins intend to have Fernandez begin the season at Double-A Jacksonville to start the season. If he shows he is ready, Fernandez will recieve a call to the majors, maybe as soon as mid-season.

An early season call-up is out of question, as the Marlins would not want to risk Fernandez gaining super-two status, especially with Boras as his agent.

With Fernandez being represented by Boras, it will be interesting to see whether the Marlins reassess their policy on not awarding no-trade clauses, in a future extension with the Cuban sensation.

Not many Scott Boras’ clients have played for the Marlins, in fact, none of Boras’ top free agents have signed with the Marlins since Alex Fernandez  signed in December 1996. This is a trend that will continue unless the Marlins change their policy of withholding no-trade clauses.

This is what Boras told Bob Nighengale this earlier this off-season, after the Marlins fire sale:

"“I’ve never had a franchise player there because it was just not something my client wanted to risk.” They (Marlins executives) were always upfront about it. They told me, ‘We don’t do no-trade clauses.’ But it’s very difficult to sell an expectancy to a player knowing that it might last for only one year.“Contractually, what they did was appropriate. It’s pretty hard to say they don’t have the right to do what they’re doing. But if you sign there, it’s caveat emptor. The money is secure, but where you play is not.”"

When meeting with the Marlins beat reporters on Monday night, owner Jeffery Loria was still non-committal about if the Marlins would change their policy on no-trade clauses.

Either way, with a small payroll, this news is not something Marlins fans needed to here.

How do you guys think Jose Fernandez signing with Scott Boras will affect the future of Fernandez with the Marlins?