Marlins make long-term offers to Jose Fernandez, core young players

Checking in on some future Toronto Blue Jays.

In their effort to keep their better young players, the Marlins also have made long-term offers to outfielder Christian Yelich and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, and they’re due to make an offer early this week to outfielder Marcell Ozuna. Perhaps their chances to extend one or more of those fine players is somewhat better than it is with Fernandez, who thus far hasn’t suggested any inclination to do such a long deal so early in his career.

The Marlins love Fernandez, a generational type of talent who fits splendidly into the community and clubhouse and put up one of the great initial seasons in big-league history. Miami’s first six-year offer to him also included two team options. The proposal would guarantee that Fernandez would stay in Miami through all of his arbitration years plus two free-agent years. Additionally, if the team options are exercised in years seven and eight, it could potentially keep Fernandez a Marlin until he’s 30.

Marlins general manager Dan Jennings, speaking generally about the team’s efforts to extend these four valued young players, suggested the team has hope to surprise folks, as it did with the record Stanton deal.

“We’ve had some great exchanges. I feel like we’re moving in the right direction,” Jennings said.