Team-by-team outlooks
It didn't take long for the Marlins' rebuilding plan to look genius.
Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Josh Willingham, Josh Johnson and Scott Olsen all look like future Fantasy stars already. And that group leaves out a studly young right-hander who pitched a no-hitter, Anibal Sanchez, and a prospect who was regarded as one of the most intriguing in baseball going into last year, Jeremy Hermida.
Hermida will be fine and develop nicely, though -- as should Mike Jacobs.
The continued development of all this young talent should leave you no hesitation with drafting Miguel Cabrera as your MVP-caliber first-round bat or Dontrelle Willis as a potential ace for your staff.
Spring position battles
Center field-- Alex Sanchez vs. Alfredo Amezaga, Cody Ross, Eric Reed
The Marlins picked up Sanchez on the cheap after failing to add a slew of options for center this winter -- Rocco Baldelli and Jeremy Reed among them. Sanchez is a basestealer, as is converted middle infielder Amezaga and the struggling minor leaguer Reed, who does less with the bat than he does with the legs. Ross gives them an option with pop, but all of these guys are nothing more than an NL-only Fantasy option if they won the job outright.
Closer -- Taylor Tankersley vs. Henry Owens, Jose Garcia, Ricky Nolasco
Tankersley was solid in his debut last year, but he's left-handed, a little raw and a little conveniently wild. If Tankersley or one of the prospects don't established themselves as the main man -- or a trade for Armando Benitez never goes through -- Nolasco could become an option out of the rotation. That will only happen in Sergio Mitre or Yusmeiro Petit prove capable of handling the No. 5 starter's job.
| Florida Marlins Outlook | |||||
| Projected lineup | Pos. | Projected Rotation | |||
| 1 | Hanley Ramirez | SS | 1 | Dontrelle Willis | LH |
| 2 | Dan Uggla | 2B | 2 | Josh Johnson | RH |
| 3 | Miguel Cabrera | 3B | 3 | Scott Olsen | LH |
| 4 | Mike Jacobs | 1B | 4 | Anibal Sanchez | RH |
| 5 | Josh Willingham | LF | 5 | Ricky Nolasco | RH |
| 6 | Jeremy Hermida | RF | Alt | Sergio Mitre | RH |
| 7 | Miguel Olivo | C | Top bullpen arms | ||
| 8 | Alex Sanchez | CF | CL | Taylor Tankersley | LH |
| Top bench options | SU | Randy Messenger | RH | ||
| R | Aaron Boone | INF | RP | Henry Owens | RH |
| R | Alfredo Amezaga | UTL | RP | Renyel Pinto | LH |
| Rookies/Prospects | Age | Pos. | 2006 high | Destination | |
| 1 | Chris Volstad | 20 | RH SP | Class A | Class A |
| Long ways from bigs, but Marlins aren't afraid to move talent | |||||
| 2 | Jose Garcia | 22 | RHP | Majors | Triple-A |
| Ranked here because he might be candidate to close this spring | |||||
| 3 | Henry Owens | 27 | RH RP | Majors | Majors |
| Should win 'pen spot, but the question is whether he will close | |||||
| 4 | Eric Reed | 26 | OF | Majors | Majors |
| Speedster has potential to start, play regularly and steal 30 bases | |||||
| 5 | Jason Stokes | 25 | 1B | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| Injuries have held power bat back, but could be 1B platoon man | |||||
| Best of the rest: RHP Gaby Hernandez, 20; C/1B Gaby Sanchez, 23; RHP Jesus Delgado, 22; RHP Harvey Garcia, 23; RHP Matt Lindstrom, 27; SS Roberto Andino, 22; 1B Brad McCann, 24; RHP Brett Sinkbeil, 22; LHP Sean West, 20; LHP Aaron Thompson, 20; RHP Ryan Tucker, 20. | |||||
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