Josh Johnson

Despite all the tradeoffs, manager Fredi Gonzalez put together a strong, talented, and young team that defied expectations yet again in 2009. 2010 should be no different. 2009 saw the Marlins boast another ROY winner in left fielder Chris Coghlan, who sparked the Marlins in the leadoff spot (.321 and led the majors in hits after the All-Star break). Shortstop Hanley Ramirez put together an MVP-caliber season (led the NL in hitting at .342 with 24 homeruns and 106 RBIs) and outfielder Cody Ross proved clutch. Young ace Josh Johnson put together a CY Young type season (15-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 200+ innings and 191 strikeouts) despite struggling late in the season. However every part of the Marlins team was inconsistent all year. Emilio Bonifacio started out the season as the hottest guy on the planet but by the end of the year, he wasn’t even playing. Starter Ricky Nolasco could strike out 10+ hitters in one game and then give up 7 runs in his next start. The bullpen may have been the most inconsistent. Closer Matt Lindstrom just could not put it all together (partly due to injuries) and was traded away in this offseason. It just seemed like Gonzalez was trying to mix-and-match the pitchers in the pen to find some combination that could consistently get hitters out. Towards the end of the year the bullpen seemed to figure it out with contributions from veteran Brendan Donnelly (3-0, 1.78 ERA in 30 games with 9 BB/ 25 K), Brian Sanches (4-2, 2.56 ERA in 47 games with 51 Ks), lefty specialist Dan Meyer (3-2, 3.09 ERA in 71 games with 56 Ks), and Kiko Calero (2-2, 1.95 ERA in 67 games with 69 Ks and just 1 homerun allowed). Unfortunately Donnelly and Calero are free agents and Calero is highly sought after because of his dominant 2009 season.

If the Marlins can build off 2009 and play consistent baseball, 2010 could be the year they overtake the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. The Marlins have a great young rotation and some exciting offensive players. It is just a matter of putting it all together before management trades the talent away. With a new ballpark coming in the near future, hopefully the firesales will begin to cease. Here’s the Marlins wish list:

1. Starting pitching: I know I mentioned that the Marlins have a great young rotation but they have yet to put it all together. With Randy St. Claire now on as the pitching coach, there is hope that 2010 may be the year. Ace Josh Johnson will be a full two years away from Tommy John surgery, so hopefully there won’t be any tiring in the second half. Ricky Nolasco was great in 2008 and showed glimpses of that in 2009, but spent time in the minors to get himself right. The rest of the rotation (Chris Volstad, Anibal Sanchez, Sean West, Rick Vandenhurk, Andrew Miller, and Burke Badenhop) all spent time in the minors due to inconsistencies or injury. A veteran starter would take the pressure (and workload) off Johnson and the rest of the staff. Tim Redding, a Phillies nemesis, is on the free agent market and should be a target for the Marlins. Rumors have the Marlins offering a 5-year contract to Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman, who has thrown 100mph in international competition.
2. 

   Leo Nunez struggles

   A closer: Closing out games was a major concern for the Marlins in 2009. They blew 24 saves in 2009. Matt Lindstrom was either hurt or ineffective. The Marlins are looking towards the slightly built Leo Nunez in 2010. Nunez accumulated 26 saves (out of 33 opportunities), but it took a 4.06 ERA to earn them. Nunez is hardly automatic. Another in-house option would be right-hander Brian Sanches, who closed in the minors the last few years and was very good. Finding a reliever with closer capabilities should be a priority if Nunez falters. Former Phillie Brett Myers fits that bill.

3. A left-handed bat: Early in the offseason, the Marlins traded outfielder Jeremy Hermida to Boston for pitching help. Hermida, who bats left-handed, never seemed to reach the high expectations placed on him. The only left-handed bats regularly in the Marlins lineup are Chris Coghlan and catcher John Baker. Third baseman Jorge Jimenez (a Rule V pick the Marlins received from the Lindstrom trade) is left-handed but will have to have a huge spring training to stick with the Marlins. The Marlins would love to get a left-handed power bat (maybe Matt Stairs won’t retire?).