As much as the Miami Marlins must love how well Jose Fernandez has been pitching this season, he could be further pricing his way out of South Beach with each dominant start.

The Marlins are "pessimistic" about keeping Fernandez on a long-term deal and believe he will seek $30 million a year when he reaches free agency in 2018, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Miami's concern regarding the 23-year-old's future price tag has long been known, as the team fielded trade interest in him over the offseason as a result. The right-hander has only improved his stock since, posting a 2.29 ERA in 12 starts and striking out an incredible 110 batters in 74 2/3 innings.

Fernandez is not long removed from Tommy John surgery (2014), so his health will likely never be a sure thing moving forward. On a related note, Marlins president David Samson has expressed reluctance toward signing pitchers to mega deals due to risk of injury, Jackson writes.