Scouting the NL East: Florida Marlins

By Michael Rushton

Philadelphia, PA - With the Florida Marlins approaching the twilight of their tenure at Sun Life Stadium, the franchise is in the process of establishing the identity it will carry over to a new name and ballpark in 2012.

One season before the big move, some up-and-coming players have already begun to shape that future character.

The Marlins went into last season looking to build off an 87-win year and get into the playoffs for the first time since their second World Series title in 2003. A slow start quickly altered those plans, with manager Fredi Gonzalez getting fired after a 34-36 jump-off to pave the way for Edwin Rodriguez to become the first Puerto Rican-born manager in MLB history.

Rodriguez, though, did more than just serve as a face for baseball's Latin community. Florida went 46-46 after Rodriguez took over on June 23, earning the manager a one-year extension, and saw several fresh faces accumulate some valuable experience at the pro level.

Despite the .500 mark after the manager switch, the Marlins still finished 17 games out of first place in the National League East and 11 games behind the wild-card winning Braves, who will be managed by Gonzalez this season.

Florida's 2010 season was ultimately defined by the youthful trinity of Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton. All three were having an impact in the lineup by season's end, with Sanchez finishing fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Rodriguez will aim to keep all three on the progressive track while hoping to keep Hanley Ramirez's head in the game. The All-Star shortstop made headlines in May after having a blowup with Gonzalez after the former manager benched him for a lack of hustle and saw some of his offensive numbers dip from his 2009 season in which Ramirez captured the NL batting title.

Florida must also find a way to replace Dan Uggla's bat in the lineup after dealing the power-hitting second baseman to Atlanta when the two sides could not agree on a contract extension.

The exit of Uggla, who is set to be spelled by former Atlanta All-Star utilityman Omar Infante, could have a positive affect on the Marlins' defense, which committed 123 errors last year. The hiring of Perry Hill as infield and first-base coach should also help. Hill was with the club from 2002-06 and is thought of as one of the top infield instructors in the game.

On the other side of things, though the small-market Marlins weren't able to assemble a pitching staff on the level of the NL East-favorite Phillies, they do feel they can go toe-to-toe with a lot of rotations after adding Javier Vazquez to a mix that already includes All-Star Josh Johnson as well as Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2011 edition of the Marlins, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2010 FINISH (80-82) - Third Place (NL East)

KEY OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: Omar Infante (2B), Javier Vazquez (RHP), Randy Choate (LHP), John Buck (C), Mike Dunn (LHP), Edward Mujica (RHP), Ryan Webb (RHP), Greg Dobbs (INF/OF)

KEY OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: Dan Uggla (2B), Cameron Maybin (CF), Will Ohman (LHP), Andrew Miller (LHP), Jorge Sosa (RHP), Ronny Paulino (C), Chad Tracy (3B), Jose Veras (RHP)

PROJECTED LINEUP: Chris Coghlan (CF), Omar Infante (2B), Hanley Ramirez (SS), Mike Stanton (RF), Gaby Sanchez (1B), Logan Morrison (LF), John Buck (C), Donnie Murphy/Emilio Bonifacio (3B)

PROJECTED ROTATION: Josh Johnson (RHP), Ricky Nolasco (RHP), Anibal Sanchez (RHP), Javier Vazquez (RHP), Chris Volstad (RHP)

PROJECTED CLOSER: Leo Nunez (RHP)

MANAGER: Edwin Rodriguez

INFIELD

The Marlins will have a new double-play combination this season as Infante joins Ramirez up the middle. Infante made the NL All-Star team last year as a utility specialist and he won't be able to replace Uggla's usual 30 homers on his own, but he does offer solid defense at multiple positions and batted .321 in 134 games last year with Atlanta.

Florida swapped Uggla for Infante and relief pitcher Mike Dunn after Uggla reportedly turned down a four-year, $48 million extension, but hopes to replace some of his power with Sanchez at first again this season. Sanchez played in 151 games last year and hit .273 with 19 homers and 85 RBI.

Also looking to chip in will be 2010 All-Star catcher John Buck, who signed a three-year deal with the Fish after setting career highs with 20 homers, 66 RBI and a .281 average in 118 games with the Blue Jays. He can also gun down his fair share of would-be base stealers and is an upgrade from the tandem of John Baker and Ronny Paulino used last season.

Of course, a rebound year from Ramirez will also help. The 27-year-old led the NL with a .342 average in 2009, but dipped to .300 in 142 games a season ago while finishing with 21 homers, 76 RBI and 32 steals.

Needing a long-term fixture at third base following last season's trade of Jorge Cantu to the Texas Rangers, the Marlins had hoped 21-year-old former first-round pick Matt Dominguez would win the job in camp, but the solid defender struggled at the plate.

Instead, Donnie Murphy or Emilio Bonifacio will slide into the third-base role, though Murphy may have the inside track until Dominguez returns due to Bonifacio's ability to fill in at multiple positions. Murphy is looking to come back from a right wrist injury suffered in early September.

Florida could also move Infante to third, but that is an idea Rodriguez is not currently entertaining.

OUTFIELD

No player on the Marlins needs to forget 2010 more than Coghlan, who won the NL Rookie of the Year honor the previous season before enduring an injury- plagued sophomore season. He was limited to just 91 games due to a left knee injury suffered during a postgame celebration and batted just .268, a far cry from his .321 average in '09.

Not only will Coghlan try to fix things at the plate as the expected leadoff hitter, but the lefty will also make the switch from left field to center following the offseason trade of the speedy Cameron Maybin to San Diego. Maybin struggled to stick in the big leagues with Florida after being acquired as part of the package received from Detroit in 2007 for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

Coghlan will have youth around him in the form of Stanton and Morrison.

Stanton will start in right field after leading all rookies with 22 homers last year, while Morrison set a club rookie record by reaching base safely in 42 straight games once he finally joined the club. Morrison will try to find his power at the big-league level as he managed just two homers in 62 games.

STARTING ROTATION

Florida is hoping a return to the NL is just what Vazquez needs after he struggled to a 10-10 mark and 5.32 earned run average in 31 games (26 starts) with the Yankees in 2010.

The right-hander did go 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts in 32 starts with the Braves in '09 and went 2-1 with a 2.99 ERA in four interleague starts a season ago. The Puerto-Rican born hurler signed a one-year deal worth $7 million and should fit right in with the Miami faithful.

Vazquez will be part of an expected all-righty rotation that is led by Johnson, who topped the NL with a 2.30 ERA while going 11-6 in 28 starts. Johnson's ERA was as low as 1.61 as of July 22, but he pitched hurt in the second half and didn't start after Sept. 4 due to a back injury and sore right shoulder.

Ricky Nolasco led the staff with 14 victories in 26 starts last season and also did not pitch in September due to injury, but still earned a three-year, $26.5 million extension this offseason.

Anibal Sanchez led the team with 32 starts last year, going 13-12 with a solid 3.55 ERA, while Chris Volstad (12-9, 4.58 ERA) rounds out the staff.

BULLPEN

The door to the bullpen might as well revolved on its own given how many arms the Marlins used last season. It comes as no surprise then that both of Florida's big trades this offseason brought back relief help.

The relief group will feature a new pair of lefties in Dunn and Randy Choate, who signed a two-year contract after appearing in a career-high 85 games a season ago with the Rays. The 35-year-old went 4-3 in that span with a 4.23 ERA.

The Maybin trade to the Padres brought back a pair of right-handers in Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb, who both had ERAs under 3.70 while combining to appear in 113 games. Both are also in their mid-twenties.

Despite some late season struggles Leo Nunez is slated to be the closer after locking down 30 saves a season ago. The right-hander did yield 62 hits and 21 walks in 65 innings and pitched to a 9.31 ERA in 10 games in August before giving way to Clay Hensley to finish out games.

Hensley finished the season with a 2.16 ERA in 68 games and saved seven games in September.

BENCH

The Marlins already had their own version of Infante in Bonifacio, who played at six different spots last year, including all three outfield positions as well as third, short and second base. He could end up starting at third or even center if Coghlan isn't ready for Opening Day due to a shoulder injury.

Despite experience at third, both Wes Helms and Greg Dobbs appear to be headed for reserve roles, while veteran outfielder Dewayne Wise may also capture a spot on the bench.

Paulino got hit with a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug late last season and is now with the Mets, while Baker isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day following September Tommy John surgery, so Brett Hayes will begin the season as Buck's backup.

OUTLOOK

Forgive the Marlins if they are already looking forward to 2012, when they will be renamed the Miami Marlins and play inside of a retractable-roof stadium and hopefully in front of some larger-sized crowds. Florida could do wonders for that last part by challenging for a playoff spot this year. A transition to youth factored into last season's step back in the win column, but Florida's guppies played well and the Marlins can still run in the middle of the pack if the unit avoids the sophomore slump. A restocked bullpen and solid rotation should take some pressure off of the offense, but replacing Uggla's bat is no small task. Rodriguez has plenty of options to work with, but his managerial skills will be tested in a competitive NL East. Still, a challenge at the wild card spot isn't out of the question.