if they want to reach a new deal with starting pitcher Jacob deGrom.According to ESPN.com Trevor Story Jersey , general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said there is a "mutual understanding" between the team and deGrom's representatives that he will not negotiate a deal during the season. That gives the two sides until Opening Day on March 28 to come to a potential agreement."There's no reason for a distraction to carry into the regular season, and we'll continue to have dialogue over the course of this spring and see where those discussions lead," Van Wagenen said. "But the last thing either side wants to do is have this be a distraction once the season starts."The ESPN report noted deGrom avoided arbitration with a one-year deal worth $17 million for the 2018 campaign and has one year of arbitration remaining on his contract.Van Wagenen was deGrom's agent prior to becoming the general manager of the Mets, so there is already a relationship in place. He said it is a priority to ensure "there is no strained relationship" between the team and pitcher as negotiations continue.While New York could wait until next year to negotiate a new contract with the right-hander since he is not scheduled to hit free agency until 2020,Joel Shermanof theNew York Postreported deGrom's agent, Jeff Berry, sent a memo to players suggesting they should use analytics to create guidelines for their usage.Since some teams point to increased usage as injury risk while negotiating, the logic is deGrom could put in guidelines limiting his usage until he receives a new contract.New York would surely benefit from having him in the rotation for years to come after his brilliant 2018 season. He won the National League Cy Young with a 1.70 ERA http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , 0.91 WHIP and 269 strikeouts, though he pitched a career-high 217 innings in a career-high 32 starts.Berry's suggestion adds a new wrinkle to the negotiations given deGrom's recent usage, but both sides are working under the timeline of Opening Day if a new deal is going to happen prior to next offseason. Fish Stripes interviewed Cooper about rebounding from a lost season and what he wants to show the world in Spring Training."WhiteFanposts Sections News & RumorsAnalysisPodcastsProspects & DraftGame CoverageFull ArchiveMasthead Social Marlins Players on TwitterFish Stripes on InstagramMarlins Media Members Fish Stripes Best of 2018 Marlins StoriesScheduleRosterStatsCommunity Guidelines StubHub 鉁旻ish Stripes Exclusives2019 Marlins Season PreviewGarrett Cooper “ready to help the team win anywhere I can”Fish Stripes interviewed Cooper about rebounding from a lost season and what he wants to show the world in Spring Training.ESTShareTweetShareShareGarrett Cooper “ready to help the team win anywhere I can”Miami MarlinsJUPITER, Fla.—It’s the middle of January and the back practice fields at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium are getting some early work. A special hitters camp is taking place, intended for young Marlins prospects...with a few exceptions.The combination of his age (28) and height (6-6) make Garrett Cooper impossible to miss. The Marlins acquired Cooper from the Yankees in November 2017 along with left-hander Caleb Smith in exchange for pitching prospect Michael King and international bonus pool money. He was handpicked by vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo, who had seen him up close the previous year when he was in the midst of his best pro season. Now with a rebuilding franchise, the late-bloomer was penciled in for a substantial major league role.He couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Cooper slashed .212/.316/.242 in 14 Marlins games (10 starts) during a forgettable campaign derailed by injuries. A Kyle Hendricks hit by pitch caught him awkwardly on the right wrist, ultimately requiring surgery to get him back to full strength for 2019.Here we are going into his second Spring Training with Miami and Cooper tells Fish Stripes that he is seeking redemption:That’s music to the ears of Marlins coaches and fans alike. His willingness to provide versatility is key considering the expected breakdown of 13 pitchers and only 12 position players on the active roster.The Auburn University alum says he is focused on securing an Opening Day spot again. Easier said than done. When Cooper was sidelined last September Greg Holland Jersey , Peter O’Brien emerged as a promising right-handed slugger. He posted a team-best .868 OPS while starting regularly at first base. The Marlins were not shy about putting the Hialeah native in the middle of their “Our Colores” rebranding campaign, further suggesting that they anticipate O’Brien being a key contributor to the 2019 team.There are also a couple new veterans in the clubhouse. Neil Walker and Curtis Granderson both agreed to one-year deals with the Marlins, expected to receive the majority of their playing time at first base and the corner outfield spots, respectively.Cooper has managed to keep a great outlook, confident that his abilities can earn him major league playing time regardless.Way below the radar at this time two years ago, Cooper’s monstrous production in 2017 at Triple-A Colorado Springs (Brewers affiliate) changed all that. He was a .366/.428/.652 hitter through 75 games with 17 home runs, shattering his previous career high of nine.“I found a swing that generated more gap-to-gap power potential,” Cooper says. “I started to incorporate more of a launch angle to really drive through the ball.”Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsHe was poised to bring that impact bat to his new surroundings. Cooper had a .821 OPS in 24 games last spring http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , including two homers during the final week of Grapefruit League. The main challenge going forward is recapturing the right timing at the plate against real pitching, he says.Due to his inactivity since then, the 28-year-old still clings to his prospect eligibility. While he wasn’t represented on the December edition of our Fish Stripes Top 25, national outlets FanGraphs and Prospects Live each ranked Cooper among the best talent in the Marlins organization. Evaluators believe in his plus-plus raw power with a quality hit tool...assuming that the injuries are fully behind him. Marlins full-squad workouts get underway on Monday, providing Cooper with a five-week window to demonstrate that he belongs at the highest level. With two minor league options remaining, there’s also the possibility that he goes down to Triple-A New Orleans initially, getting his reps in a low-stakes environment.CEO Derek Jeter and the rest of the Marlins front office continue to preach patience while admitting they’re anxious to see better results from a team that piled up 98 losses in 2018. Cooper could be part of the solution—their 3.66 runs per game average last season was third-worst in franchise history. However, the latest forecast from PECOTA only pegs them for a slight improvement (68-94 http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , 3.80 R/G) on their way to another last-place finish.“All the scouts and writers believe they know what will happen,” Cooper says, “but all I’m saying is to give this team a chance and we will shock some people. It’s time for people to buy into Miami.”I wanna thank Garrett for taking the time to do this interview with me. Make sure you give him a follow on Twitter (@CoopaLoop1) and Instagram (@coopaloop28). Look for him in right field on Opening Day if all goes according to plan.