Family friend: Jose Fernandez wanted to sign long term in Miami

Exactly one year ago, baseball lost Jose Fernandez, one of the sport's most promising pitchers and charismatic personalities, at age 24 in a boating accident.

Tampa Bay attorney and family friend Ralph Fernandez (no relation to Jose) touched on the impact of his death, revealing that the Miami Marlins ace wanted to sign long term with the organization prior to becoming a free agent in 2019.

"It was top secret," Ralph told Clark Spencer and Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald.

"He knew the fact that it would shave off a significant sum by staying. But he wasn't leaving Miami. The decision had already been made. I know for a fact he wouldn't have signed elsewhere, I don't care what anybody says. I think Scott (Boras) was well on board on it. We just couldn't leak it out."

Ralph believes staying in Miami would have been good for the 24-year-old. He said that when Jose was at home, he would often stay with his mother in her apartment and act more responsibly. When the team traveled, however, Ralph admitted he felt Jose was more distracted, particularly by alcohol.

Jose was slated to earn $2.8 million in 2016 and was under contract for two more years. He was in line for a significant raise in 2017 after performing to a 2.86 ERA, 2.30 FIP, 6.2 WAR, and a league-leading 12.49 K/9 at the time of his death.