Marlins' Fernandez 'not paying attention' to rumors

As he prepares for his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Miami Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez is far too busy to concern himself with trade rumors, or recent reports of an ongoing spate between him and his employer.

"I have heard something," Fernandez told reporters Friday at a Marlins chairty event. "I'm not paying attention to it at all. My No. 1 goal is to get ready. I went into the offseason healthy. A lot of work, a lot of things to do. I really don't have no time to look into that stuff. It's not important to me."

Trade rumors surrounding Fernandez - who returned in July after spending the previous 14 months recovering from surgery - intensified earlier this week when a report citing anonymous player sources said the 23-year-old has become a "bad influence" in the clubhouse who "talks to management like they are children."

Multiple player sources also confirmed that Fernandez, on at least two occasions, approached president of baseball operations Michael Hill in the clubhouse and asked, "When are you going to trade me?"

Though Fernandez, who remains under team control for three more seasons, may envision playing elsewhere, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reported Friday that every source he's spoken to maintains the former Rookie of the Year will not be dealt.

Roughly 24 hours earlier, meanwhile, team president David Samson downplayed the likelihood of trading Fernandez, the 14th overall pick in the 2011 draft.

"I don't see it as possible of him going anywhere, but teams come up with some crazy ideas, so it's our responsibility to always listen," Samson said.

The reported acrimony between Fernandez and the Marlins, though, was further complicated by the All-Star's agent, Scott Boras, who was critical of how the club handled outfielder Marcell Ozuna, another one of his clients, in 2015.

Fernandez, who made his season debut July 2, crafted a 2.92 ERA (133 ERA+) with a 5.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 11 starts this season, though he missed more than four weeks after landing on the disabled list in early August with a biceps injury.

"I'm looking forward to being with my teammates and winning some ball games," added Fernandez. "Get ready to go to Spring Training healthy and have a nice long year with the boys. Hopefully we get the opportunity to win the World Series. That's the main goal. That's what the city deserves and that's what I'm trying to do."