FLORIDA MARLINS

2005 finish: 83-79, tied for 3^rd place in NL East

Manager: Joe Girardi (1^st season)

Incoming: RHP Joe Borowski, 1B Mike Jacobs, RHP Sergio Mitre, C Miguel Olivo, IF Wes Helms, SS Hanley Ramirez, IF Alfredo Amezaga, RHP Travis Bowyer, RHP Matt Herges

Long gone: RHP Josh Beckett, 1B Carlos Delgado, RHP A.J. Burnett, RHP Todd Jones, 3B Mike Lowell, 2B Luis Castillo, C Paul LoDuca, CF Juan Pierre, SS Alex Gonzalez, OF Juan Encarnacion, 1B/OF Jeff Conine, LHP Ron Villone, RHP Antonio Alfonseca, RHP Ismael Valdez, IF Lenny Harris, RHP Paul Quantrill

Rotation: LHP Dontrelle Willis, RHP Sergio Mitre, RHP Brian Moehler, LHP Jason Vargas, RHP Josh Johnson or LHP Scott Olson or RHP Ricky Nolasco

Relievers: Closer: RHP Joe Borowski; Setup men: RHP Matt Herges, RHP Kerry Ligtenberg, RHP Travis Bowyer, RHP Randy Messenger, RHP Chris Resop, RHP Nate Bump

Regulars: CF Eric Reed, SS Hanley Ramirez, RF Jeremy Hermida, 3B Miguel Cabrera, 1B Mike Jacobs, C Josh Willingham, LF Wes Helms, 2B Dan Uggla

Role players: C Miguel Olivo, C Matt Treaner, IF Alfredo Amezaga, IF Robert Andino, OF Reggie Abercrombie, OF Chris Aguila, OF Matt Cepicky

The pressure is on: Owner Jeffrey Loria needs to find a way to get a new stadium built – in South Florida, or some place else.

Breakout candidate: Jeremy Hermida should be the best of the many Baby Marlins who will get opportunities this season.

Rundown: It’s too depressing to run through the list of all who have departed. Instead, we’ll just attempt to do what new manager Joe Girardi must accomplish this spring – put together a roster from a gutted team that contended into September of last season, but will be lucky to avoid 100 losses. Here’s what little we knew heading into camp: Dontrelle Willis will start Opening Day and lead the rotation. Miguel Cabrera will return to his natural position – third base – even though there aren’t three big-league-caliber regular outfielders on the roster. Jeremy Hermida, 22, will play right field, and could emerge as a Rookie of the Year candidate if his strong September showing (.293-4-11-.383 on-base percentage) is any indicator. Journeyman Joe Borowski will be the closer. Heading into the final week of camp, here is what else appears to have been settled: Former Cub Sergio Mitre, 25, has the No. 2 spot behind Willis. Lefty Jason Vargas, 23, and Brian Moehler, a fifth starter/middle reliever who was 6-12 with a 4.55 ERA last season, have rotation spots as well. Josh Willingham has beaten out Miguel Olivo and Mike Treanor behind the plate. Mike Jacobs will try to build on his encouraging (.310-11-23 in 100 at-bats) showing with the Mets last September. We’ll find out if Hanley Ramirez can make the jump from Double-A to play shortstop regularly in the big leagues. His double-play partner could be Rule 5 pick Dan Uggla, as injury-prone veteran Pokey Reese was cut after leaving camp to deal with personal issues. The other two outfield spots could go to Wes Helms and a platoon of rookies Eric Reed and Reggie Abercrombie – unless a late-spring deal is made. There have been numerous reports of a potential deal for Tampa Bay speedster Joey Gathright, who would lead off and play center field, and the Fish definitely have enough quality young pitching to part with one. You also could see a late-camp waiver-wire pickup to fill a hole in the bullpen. Scott Olson, Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco are fighting for the last rotation spot, and veterans Matt Herges and Kerry Ligtenberg should win bullpen spots along with Randy Messenger and Travis Bowyer. With no stadium funding on the horizon, you have to wonder about the long-term viability of this franchise in South Florida. Maybe MLB will have to step in to preserve what not long ago was considered a key market and gateway to the bountiful Caribbean. Or, perhaps the franchise will move. As for 2006, you get what you pay for, and due to their ‘market correction’ (how’s that for spin?) the Fish will have a payroll of about $18 million. Enough said.

Predicted finish: 5^th place, 54-108

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