FLORIDA MARLINS

Starting Lineup
3B Emilio Bonifacio: not a lot of opportunity at the moment for the speedy second baseman but that can change if the Marlins trade Cantu or Uggla; getting most of his reps at 3B this spring UPDATE 3/13 - with Amezaga out, he will get reps in the OF this spring UPDATE 3/28 - ESPN's Buster Olney says Bonifacio now appears to be the frontrunner for the 3B job UPDATE 3/31 - appears to be the guy at 3B now that Sanchez has been optioned to the minors UPDATE 4/3 - officially named the team's leadoff hitter
C John Baker: After spending parts of five seasons in AAA, the 27 year-old finally got a chance to play in the big leagues and more than held his own (.299/.392/.447)
SS Hanley Ramirez: Best hitter on the team usually bats third in the lineup but Ramirez only hit .268 with 1 HR in 16 games from the #3 hole in '08; he does his damage from the lead off spot (.304 BA, 32 HR)
UPDATE 2/23 - sounds like the Marlins plan on moving ahead with Ramirez in the #3 hole
3B Jorge Cantu: Inexpensive and productive (.29 HR, 95 RBI's in '08), Cantu gives the Marlins flexibility at 1B, 2B, and 3B, to trade Uggla or give Gaby Sanchez or Dallas McPherson more minor league time
2B Dan Uggla: HR production has increased every season in the big leagues (27 in '06, 31 in '07, 32 in '08)
LF Jeremy Hermida: Regressed (.249/.323/.406) after solid 2007 season (.296/.369/.501) UPDATE 3/1 - looks like he'll play LF with Ross moving to RF
RF Cody Ross: Hit 22 HR's, 29 2B's, and knocked in 73 runs, playing nearly everyday for the first time in his career
CF Cameron Maybin: The Marlin's top prospect had a nice season in AA (.277/.375/.456) but it was his eight game audition (16-for-32) in Florida that gets him serious consideration for the starting CF job; with the likely move of Ramirez to the #3 spot, whoever wins the CF job will likely leadoff UPDATE 4/3 - will likely hit 8th in the order although he could bat 2nd when John Baker is out of the lineup

Bench
C Ronny Paulino: the fact that he's thrown out 31% of base stealers in his ML career and has shown more offensive ability should give him a good shot to take playing time away from Ruiz UPDATE 3/25 - according to Ken Rosenthal, Paulino is available with Coste securing the backup job UPDATE 3/27 - acquired from the Phillies, he'll likely be the backup to Molina UPDATE 3/28 - acquired from the Giants; he'll likely be the backup to John Baker
1B Ross Gload: likely the odd man out with the acquisition of Jacobs; hit .273 with 3 HR's in 2008 UPDATE 4/1 - acquired from Kansas City
IF Wes Helms: veteran will back up at the corners and provide some pop off the bench
IF Andy Gonzalez: UPDATE 4/2 - appears to be the only option as a middle infielder if Amezaga isn't healthy enough to start the season UPDATE 4/3 - has made the opening day roster
OF Brett Carroll: has put up good numbers in AAA but has hit just .152 in 66 ML at bats UPDATE 3/19 - battling with De Aza for what is likely the only backup OF job

Starting Rotation
RHP Ricky Nolasco: established himself as a top-of-the-rotation starter after a 15-8 season with 3.52 ERA and 212.1 IP
RHP Josh Johnson: returned from TJ surgery to go 7-1 with a 3.61 ERA in 14 starts; was 12-7 with a 3.12 ERA in his only full ML season in 2006
RHP Chris Volstad: a 2.95 ERA in 14 starts as a 21 year-old rookie is pretty impressive
RHP Anibal Sanchez: has battled injuries since his impressive rookie season (10-3, 2.83 ERA) in 2006 but should be ready to win a job in '09
LHP Andrew Miller: very erratic but has great potential; if he can turn the corner, the Marlins could have one of the best young rotations in the game UPDATE 3/22 - #5 starter won't get his first start until April 18th meaning Miller could start in AAA or the bullpen UPDATE 4/2 - will be the team's #5 starter but will pitch in long-relief until his first start on April 15th.

Bullpen
RHP Matt Lindstrom: hard-throwing 29 year-old should get first shot at replacing Kevin Gregg as the closer UPDATE 3/17 - appears to be doubtful for opening day with a strained rotator cuff
RHP Leo Nunez: acquired for Mike Jacobs, he'll likely be the set-up man for Lindstrom after going 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA for Kansas City in '08
LHP Renyel Pinto: interesting righty/lefty splits as he allowed a .264 BA vs lefties and only a .203 BA vs righties
RHP Logan Kensing: posted a 4.23 ERA with 50 hits allowed in 55 IP in '08
RHP Kiko Calero: 34 year-old posted a 3.10 ERA in his first four big league seasons (2003-06) but has struggled since; he's looking to revive his career with the Marlins UPDATE 3/14 - has allowed just one hit and a walk in 4 shutout innings this spring
LHP Dan Meyer: former prospect for the Braves was claimed off waivers from Oakland; was 18-7 over last two seasons in AAA UPDATE 3/23 - has allowed just 2 ER in 6 IP this spring
RHP Hayden Penn: former top prospect was 6-7 in 21 starts with a 4.79 ERA in AAA in 2008 UPDATE 3/25 - out of options, this once promising prospect is still in the mix for a rotation spot UPDATE 3/26 - didn't help his cause today UPDATE 3/30 - likely down to his last chance on Tuesday to secure a rotation spot UPDATE 3/31 - out of the competition for a rotation spot after today's start and could very well be done with the O's UPDATE 4/1 - acquired from Baltimore, he'll have a chance to fill the long relief role

Disabled List
RHP Scott Proctor: posted a 6.05 ERA in '08 with the Dodgers; maybe he was worn down from consecutive seasons of 83 appearances in '06 and '07 UPDATE 3/18 - strong chance he won't be available for opening day UPDATE 3/25 - likely to miss the first month of the season
UTL Alfredo Amezaga: could start in CF if Maybin isn't ready but is a valuable utility man that can run UPDATE 3/11 - out 4-6 weeks with a sprained knee UPDATE 3/30 - could be ready by opening day UPDATE 4/3 - will start the season on the DL
RHP Rick VandenHurk: UPDATE 4/3 - in the mix for the last bullpen spot UPDATE 4/3 - will start the season on the DL

Traded
IF Robert Andino: out of options and stuck behind Ramirez at SS, he'll likely be auditioning in spring training for another team UPDATE 3/13 - will get a chance to show what he can do in the OF with Amezaga out; if he can handle it, he'll have an good shot at a bench job UPDATE 4/1 - traded to Baltimore for Hayden Penn

Released
OF Jay Gibbons: averaged 19 HR's and 63 RBI's for Baltimore from 2001-06; did not play in the major leagues in 2008 UPDATE 3/13 - among first batch of cuts
IF Dallas McPherson: will be given an opportunity to compete for a starting job after an unbelievable season in AAA (42 HR's in Albuquerque) UPDATE 3/31 - released from the team

Optioned to AAA
LHP Taylor Tankersley: former 1st round pick spent most of 2008 in AAA after going 8-2 with a 3.47 ERA in his first two ML seasons UPDATE 3/23 - optioned to AAA
RHP Ryan Tucker: team's #5 prospect, according to BA, he could make the team as a middle reliever with a chance to break into the rotation in 2010 UPDATE 3/12 - still competing for a bullpen job UPDATE 3/24 - will start the season in AAA
C Mike Rabelo: has thrown out 28% of base stealers in parts of two ML seasons UPDATE 3/28 - acquisition of Paulino likely pushes him to AAA to start the season UPDATE 3/28 - optioned to AAA
RHP Burke Badenhop: UPDATE 3/14 - has allowed just 2 hits and a walk on 5 shutout innings this spring but has yet to strike out a batter; 26 year-old had a 6.08 ERA in 47.1 IP with the Marlins in '08 UPDATE 3/31 - optioned to AAA where he'll work as a starter
1B Gaby Sanchez: many people believe he'll win the 1B job outright despite never playing a single game in AAA and never hitting more than 17 HR's in a season; he has a career .397 OBP in the minors UPDATE 2/23 - looks like he'll be given every chance to be the everyday 1B UPDATE 3/28 - if he doesn't win the starting job, he'll likely start the season in AAA UPDATE 3/31 - optioned to AAA
RHP Carlos Martinez: pitched 12 games for the Marlins in '07 and two games in '08; will compete for a bullpen spot UPDATE 4/3 - optioned to AAA

Reassigned to minor league camp
RHP Jose Ceda: most people believe the Gregg for Ceda trade will end up being a steal for Florida; Ceda will probably get a chance to prove it at some point in 2009, if not out of spring training UPDATE 3/14 - was shutdown earlier in camp with shoulder aggravation, which ultimately hurt his chances of making the opening day roster
RHP Jason Stanridge: former #1 draft pick has been a bust as a major leaguer, posting a 5.80 ERA in parts of seven seasons
OF John Raynor: hit .312 with a .402 OBP, 13 HR's, and 48 SB's in AA last season; could win 4th OF job with big spring UPDATE 3/28 - reassigned to the minors
OF Alejandro De Aza: missed all of 2008 with an injury after winning the CF job in spring training UPDATE 3/11 - Amezaga's injury gives him a strong opportunity to win a spot on opening day UPDATE 3/31 - reassigned to minor league camp
LHP John Koronka: UPDATE 3/14 - 28 year-old has allowed just 1 ER and 4 hits in 4 IP this spring UPDATE 3/31 - reassigned to minor league camp

Returned to NY Yankees (Rule V)
LHP Zachary Kroenke: Rule V draftee will have a tough time making the team although he had impressive numbers in the Yankee organization in '08 (7-0, 2.85 ERA between AA and AAA) UPDATE 3/16 - didn't have much of an opportunity but allowed 7 runs and 4 hits in 1 IP