Stop if you heard this one before. Agent Scott Boras will be involved in a strict, doctor-imposed innings limit for one of his MLB clients.
No, not Matt Harvey, who exceeded his doctor-recommended 180-inning limit by 36 innings in a giant controversy involving the Mets front office, but rather Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, who also is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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Boras was involved with a plan when Fernandez made 11 starts this season in his return from elbow surgery in May 2014. But with a revamped front office, the team said this winter that Boras would not be directly consulted about Fernandez's innings plan.
"We did this last year, with Scott Boras, [president of baseball operations] Mike Hill, [former general manager/manager] Dan Jennings," Fernandez said via Marlins.com. "We all talked on the phone, my doctor. Kaplan was aware. We have done this, it's worked perfectly fine. We all agreed. We're all on the same page.
"I do not know what all this is all about, but Scott Boras will be there because he's my agent, and I get to decide who is going to be on my phone calls on my conference. It's that simple."
To make matters worse for the Marlins, a bevy of rumors have spread that Fernandez could be traded this winter because the talented hurler is unhappy in Miami.
It would be a blockbuster trade if the Marlins decide to deal the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year, who is an incredible 17-0 with a 1.40 ERA at Marlins Park in his career.
Boras is likely behind the rumors, and he and Marlins officials clashed this season over another of his clients, outfielder Marcell Ozuna, being sent to the minors.
Fernandez, 23, owns a 2.40 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 336:85 K:BB ratio in 289 major-league innings to begin his career.