Miami Marlins: 3 Marlins In Fangraphs Top 30 Trade Value List

Jul 2, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins manager Dan Jennings (right) is greeted by starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (left) after Fernandez hit a solo home run during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

#23: Jose Fernandez, SP, Miami
Controlled Through: 2018
Guaranteed Dollars: None
2016 ZIPS WAR: +3.8
Five year ZIPS WAR: +20.4
Last Year: #34

"Fernandez and Harvey are similar in so many ways, from the ridiculous dominance pre-injury through their recovery from Tommy John surgery. Both are heading to arbitration for the first time this winter, and both are represented by Scott Boras, so expect no long-term deal here either. Fernandez is four years younger, which is the primary reason he’s ranked ahead of Harvey, but age for pitchers doesn’t matter as much as it does for hitters, so the gap isn’t that large. Fernandez has only made two starts since being back, so we have less information about what he is in the short-term, but if he keeps pitching like he did in those starts, there’s a case to be made that he should be even higher than this. He’s a pretty special pitcher, and even with just three years of team control remaining, the price to pry him out of the Marlins hands would be remarkably high."

Despite being already out for the season at the time of this list coming out last season, Jose Fernandez was still valuable enough to rank 34th on Dave’s list last season. This was due mostly to an extremely strong rookie season showing, as well as a strong sophomore season, before going down with his elbow injury.

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Fernandez posted a 2.19 ERA and a 2.73 FIP in 172 2/3 innings of work in 2013, amassing a 4.1 fWAR in his rookie season. This helped garner Jose the Rookie of the Year Award, as well as a third place finish in the NL CY Young Award race.

Last year, Jose posted an even more impressive 2.44 ERA and a 2.18 FIP in 51 1/3 innings. If you take out his May 9th start against the Padres in which his elbow betrayed him, Fernandez owned a 1.74 ERA and a 1.68 FIP in 46 2/3 innings.

After missing 13 months, Jose Fernandez returned to the mound on July 2nd for the Miami Marlins and has been damn good since his return. In two starts, Jose has struck out 15 and not walked a single hitter in 13 innings of work. He owns a 2.08 ERA and a 1.77 FIP, with much of that damage coming in his very first inning back on the mound.

Fernandez is repped by super agent Scott Boras and is unlikely to sign a team friendly extension in the mold of Yelich, so that, as well as the Tommy John surgery likely impact his trade value.

Still, in Fernandez, the Marlins have a great asset, one they are unlikely to use in a trade anytime in the near future.

Next: Giancarlo Stanton