2009 outlooks: Florida Marlins

The perpetual state of rebuilding continued for the Marlins this offseason as they shipped closer Kevin Gregg off to the Cubs and outfielder Josh Willingham up to Washington.

Fortunately, Matt Lindstrom had already assumed the role of closer by the end of last season, and top prospect Cameron Maybin needed an opening in the outfield to get in the lineup.

But doesn't it always work that way for the Marlins? Every time they have a fire sale or a changing of the guard, they have a steady stream of young talent waiting to fill the void. You can never count them out of contention for too long because they always have the tools to get right back in it.

Of course, when speaking of talent on the Marlins, the discussion begins and ends with superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez -- by all indications, the consensus No. 1 overall pick in Fantasy this season. If you don't know why yet, you clearly have plenty of reading ahead of you before Draft Day. He hits for power. He hits for average. He steals bases. He plays arguably the weakest position in Fantasy.

Dan Uggla joins him at second base to give the Marlins two perennial 30-home run hitters up the middle. And if 25-year-old outfielder Jeremy Hermida ever lives up to his top-prospect billing, the Marlins will have three franchise players in the middle of their lineup. The rest of the lineup consists of a few journeyman types who can suffice as everyday players, though Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu each topped 20 home runs last season. Cantu could remain at third base or move to first base and allow minor-league home run champ Dallas McPherson, now a late bloomer at age 28, to man third. If Cantu remains at third, prospect Gaby Sanchez would likely get the nod at first.

On the mound, Ricky Nolasco emerged as a 15-game winner out of nowhere, having missed almost all of 2007 with inflammation in his right elbow. He particularly impressed in the second half, posting a 3.29 ERA with more strikeouts (98) than innings pitched (95 2/3). Josh Johnson, the No. 2 starter, might have even more upside, though he'll need to improve his control and work deeper into games before he can make the leap from Fantasy sleeper to Fantasy mainstay. Chris Volstad, who impressed as a rookie, and Anibal Sanchez, who returned from shoulder surgery, help fill out the rotation, with the fifth spot likely coming down to Andrew Miller, Dan L. Meyer or Burke Badenhop. Miller, an erratic lefty with enormous upside, figures to win the spot based on potential.

Potential Breakout: Josh Johnson, SP

Eight strikeouts, four strikeouts, eight strikeouts, eight strikeouts, five strikeouts, nine strikeouts, six strikeouts, one strikeout. That's how Johnson ended his 2008 season -- one in which he bounced back from Tommy John surgery to recapture the form he demonstrated during his 12-win rookie season in 2006. The guy has talent, striking out 8.7 batters per nine innings over those final eight starts. He needs to work deeper into games, which might come with improving his control, but quite frankly, most pitchers his size and age have far worse control issues. Besides, his 6-foot-7 frame makes him a horse-in-waiting, and with his elbow reconstruction surgery already behind him, the Marlins can feel free to turn him loose. He has ace potential, and even if he doesn't live up to it this year, he won't disappoint with his current numbers as a middle-round pick.

Potential Bust: Jorge Cantu, 1B/3B

It's not that Cantu hasn't done this before; it's what he did the next year that matters. When he seemingly broke out with 28 home runs for Tampa Bay in 2005, he slumped to a .249 batting average and 14 home runs in 2006. His 29 home runs last year show he still has decent power potential, but he also has a poor batting eye and a streaky disposition. Maybe you couldn't care less about his history, though. He's still young, after all, and no longer in Tampa Bay. But if an expected regression in statistics doesn't scare you, consider also the expected regression in playing time. At their corner-infield positions, the Marlins have two left-handed hitters -- McPherson and Sanchez -- who project better for them long term than Cantu. Couldn't you see Cantu bouncing between third base and first base, filling in for McPherson or Sanchez against left-handed pitching while spending most of his time against right-handed pitching on the bench? That possibility alone might convince you to look elsewhere for a corner infielder in the middle rounds of your Fantasy draft.

Potential Sleeper: Cameron Maybin, OF

Maybin, originally a top prospect in the Tigers organization, has 30-30 potential, and the Marlins seem ready and willing to give him the everyday job in center field this spring. He earned it after hitting .500 in a 32-at-bat stretch last September. At age 21, he still struggles with strikeouts, and his bouts with inconsistency might leave him with a subpar batting average. But considering he's one of the few remaining options for stolen bases late in most Rotisserie drafts, why not take a chance on him and hope you end up hitting a home run, so to speak?

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