Jose Fernandez, Marlins to map out 2016 usage plan during offseason

The Marlins and Jose Fernandez want to avoid a Matt Harvey situation in 2016 and intend to map out a usage strategy before the start of next season.

"Whatever it is, we'll figure it out and we'll all try to be on the same page," Fernandez said. "In the offseason, I feel pretty comfortable we'll all have a meeting with the team, the doctor, (agent) Scott Boras and myself. I don't think it will be hard at all."

Fernandez, like the Mets' Harvey, returned from Tommy John surgery this season. And, also like Harvey, Fernandez is represented by Boras, who raised questions recently about an innings cap for Harvey, creating an end-of-season controversy with the Mets.

Fernandez would not talk specifically about Harvey.

"I prefer not to comment on it," Fernandez said. "A lot of things go into it. But I'm staying out of it."

What Fernandez would acknowledge is that he intends to design a plan with the Marlins beforehand to address any questions about how much he'll pitch in 2016.

"I think we're going to be careful," Fernandez said without going into specifics about a potential innings limit. "I think we're going to try to be careful, because it's a long run, and you want to make sure you stay healthy and you stay good as much as you can."

Fernandez said he and the Marlins had a plan in place this season in the event the team was still in contention in September.

"We kind of had a plan for this year if we would have made it to the playoffs," Fernandez said. "We talked about it in spring training. So we had it planned out -- the team, the doctor, the agent, myself -- (that) everybody could feel comfortable with. We were going to (implement) it if we were closer. After the All-Star break, we were going to sit down, see where we're at, and go from there. But there would have been a plan."