Will Cameron Maybin make this offseason worth it for the Marlins?

The 2007 season for the Marlins was just another typical year for this sorry franchise. After three consecutive years over .500, they finished under that mark for the second season in a row. Characteristically in one of their down years, they were one of the worst teams in the baseball.

Sure, the Marlins might not have exactly been the worst team in the National League, or the worst team in their state for that matter; however, looking forward, there is not much forward. This year is not exactly looking any nicer for Marlins’ fans (both of them) either. Instead of maintaining the foundation, rebuilding has commenced yet again, only this time not from a point of winning. This is not exactly a great way to advance plans for a new stadium…

Players Added

Alfredo Amezaga might be a wonderful utility player, but the Marlins have used him as much more than that over the last two seasons. That problem is now over with the arrival of Cameron Maybin, arguably the best hitting prospect in the game. Still just 20 years old, Maybin struggled in his major league debut with the Tigers last year, but his minor league numbers are spectacular, as is his future potential.

Another top prospect, and a former first rounder, Andrew Miller pitched in 13 games as a 22-year-old for the Tigers in 2007, and he, like Maybin, struggled, going 5-5 with a 5.63 ERA. In 64 innings, Miller struck out 56 and walked 39.  Miller is a lock a spot in the rotation, but there are no guarantees that he will not continue to struggle. That said, the potential for him being a No. 1 starter in the future is certainly there. This was a nice fetch for the Marlins, but for 2009 and beyond.

Also acquired from the Tigers was catcher Mike Rabelo. With Ivan Rodriguez holding a firm grasp on the catcher’s spot in Detroit, Rabelo was never going to get any significant shot at playing time. Not that he was exactly Pudge Jr. when he did play, but he was serviceable. Now in Florida, Rabelo enters the season as the starting catcher, and it will be the first shot at significant major league playing time for the now 28-year-old backstop.

Minor league pitchers Burke Badenhop, Eulogio de la Cruz, and Dallas Trahern were the final parts of the trade with the Tigers, and may all become contributing major leaguers, especially if they stay on the Marlins.

Cut by the Pirates, Jose Castillo signed with the Marlins ostensibly to replace Miguel Cabrera. Yes, that is just a wee bit of a downgrade. Okay, a significant downgrade, as he has in 1,492 career major league at-bats just 33 home runs, which is fewer than one gets out an average season from Cabrera. What is more likely to happen is that the Marlins will realize what the Pirates already have, that Castillo is a glorified utility player, and he will end up spending plenty of time on the bench.

Jorge Cantu landed a minor league deal, but he probably will make the team to split duties at the corners. One has to wonder why there are not steroid rumors surrounding Cantu, as he went from being a non-entity when it comes to power numbers to having a two-year explosion, to going back to being a non-entity, only in more than just the power department.

Mark Hendrickson was what qualified as a splashy free agent pitching signing by the Marlins. He posted by far his best strikeout to walk ratio last year, but with little other improvement to the 33-year-old pitcher’s career. He is at least, a cheap veteran, if maybe not the leader the team could use.

Players Lost

Miguel Olivo was far from an offensive stud in 2007, but his .237 batting average and 16 home runs clearly made him too expensive for the Marlins. It is so hard to figure out if one should laugh or cry over that statement. His departure clears the way for a competition in Spring Training between Rabelo and Matt Treanor.

Of course, that was not the big departure, by far – that would be the trade of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Motor City for six players. In Cabrera, the Marlins part ways with one of the most productive offensive players of the past four seasons. Cabrera hit at least 33 home runs in three of those four, has posted a .320 batting average or better each of the last three seasons, has posted an OBP over .400 each of the last two seasons, and has posted a slugging percentage of .560 or higher each of the last three seasons. To say that the Marlins will miss his bat is a gross understatement.

As for Willis, last year was not at all a good one for the D-Train. In 35 starts in 2007, Willis was 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA, with 146 strikeouts and 87 walks in 205 1/3 innings. One has to wonder if the dramatic number of innings on his still-young arm has finally started to take their toll. The 2007 season was the fourth consecutive season where Willis tossed at least 197 innings, and that includes two seasons over 220 innings. There is still plenty of reason to believe that Willis can turn things back around, but it is also entirely possible that the Marlins wisely sold high here – albeit lower than it could have been had they moved him in 2006.

Moves Still to Come

At this point, there really is little for the Marlins to do. The Marlins have sold just about everything not nailed down that someone would take, and that probably includes Billy the Marlin. If there were more fish-oriented big market teams, he would likely be gone too.

What to Watch in Spring Training

First off, we have center field, where Cameron Maybin is likely the starter, considering the buzz of the trade, but there are other options here. If Maybin struggles in Spring Training, as he did in October, he could find a return ticket to the minors, which would open things up for another chance for Alejandro de Aza. De Aza was the Opening Day 2007 starter, only to have his season completely derailed by injury. The opening is unlikely, but it might be there.

Then there is the question of where Cody Ross will fit in. Will the Marlins relegate him to fourth outfielder duties after hitting .335 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI last year in 173 at-bats? Josh Willingham and Jeremy Hermida both certainly appear locked in at the corner spots heading into the season.

Who will be the third baseman? Castillo signed to be the third baseman, but a cog might have been thrown into those plans today by the signing of former stud third base prospect Dallas McPherson. Will McPherson be able to reclaim any of his former status? Injuries have put a significant damper on his career so far, but he is still young enough at 27 to turn things around.

Who will be the Marlins’ catcher? The favorite is likely Rabelo, although the incumbent Treanor might have something to say about that in the spring. Either way, one should not expect much, if any, offensive production out of this position for the Marlins this year.

Lastly, there is the pitching rotation. The first four are set, with Scott Olsen, Sergio Mitre, Andrew Miller, and Mark Hendrickson will likely the four, with Anibel Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco, and Rick Vanden Hurk battling for the fifth and final spot. Vanden Hurk has the most potential, but is also the rawest, so a return to the minors is certainly possible for him, whereas either of the other two could theoretically go to the bullpen.