The Marlins certainly dove straight into the offseason with a splash by gaining central pieces to their revamped 2012 team. And with Spring Training rapidly approaching (less than two months away now), the Marlins are looking to solidify their starting lineup for 2012. Even with the major transactions the team has made so far, they still may have some moves left in them. Primarily, Miami will be looking to add via trade–no more free agent signings. Also, there are still uncertainties in the depth chart, which could promote trading. let’s take a look and examine some possibilities.
Scenario 1: The Marlins move Logan Morrison to first base full time, opening up trade options for Gaby Sanchez. Sanchez, a 2010 All-Star, could bring in pitching help, but with LoMo moved to first there would be an outfield void. So in this instance, Sanchez could be traded for veteran outfield help and/or another starting pitcher.
Scenario 2: Miami trades minor leaguers for a starting pitcher. Two guys on the Marlins radar have been James Shields of the Rays and Gio Gonzalez of the Athletics. Miami has an abundance of young talent that they might have to give up in return for a top-of-the-line starter. Bryan Petersen, Scott 
Cousins, and Chris Coghlan are possible outfield trade pieces, while Sean West, Alex Sanabia, or Brad Hand could be traded if pitching appeals to the recipient.
Scenario 3: This one is a lineup shake up. If Hanley Ramirez is too stubborn and does not want to move to third base, he could stay at shortstop and Jose Reyes would move to second base. Reyes played second in his first year in New York before becoming the full time short stop. Then, Omar Infante would play third, and Matt Dominguez would be a trade piece. I’m a big fan of Dominguez personally, and I think he has a bright future, but it may be in the best interest of the Marlins to trade him. Dominguez has drawn comparisons to Mike Lowell for both his offense and defense, so his trade value, along with that of another prospect, may be enough to bring in a top-tier starting pitcher.
Right now, the Miami’s main priority is to attain another starting pitcher in order to make their rotation even more competitive. Joe Frisaro talked this week of the importance of Josh Johnson’s health. If JJ stays healthy, the Marlins rotation will rank right up there with those of the Phillies, Braves, and Nationals, but if he cannot complete a full season, Miami’s playoff hopes might be in jeopardy.
The Top Step 
I’m a Marlin fan through and through. However, you seem to greatly overvalue most of the trade fodder mentioned above. The Marlins minor league system is much maligned except at the A ball level. What some analyists forget is that the team is young and players who would be top prospects on other teams, are playing in the major leagues for the Marlins. They won’t need a ton of minor league replacements until those youngsters mature. I still hope they go for a free agent. Even Oswalt for one year would be a good gamble. And we fans shouldn’t rule out Vazquez. I would not be adverse to giving him a contract that allows him to go home between starts upon occasion. He is known to keep himself in superb condition, so why not? As stated previously, I favor LoMo to 1B. Gabby is a good,far from great, player but as a first baseman, his bat equates to a spot about at the lower third of all major league players at that position. However, if you were the Cubs or Rays, would you give up a Garza or a Shields for Dominguez, Gabby, and Volstad? I wouldn’t. And we can’t trade Coghlan right now because he has little worth. Peterson showed just enough last year to keep him in case Coghlan washes out. Sanabia, James and Hands have little current value , but enough potential to keep rather than make them “throw ins” in any trade. Cousins and Sean West have no value at all. My heart (not my head)is rooting for he of the great facial hair. I realize that Mattison, at 26, is too old to be a true prospect and late bloomers are the stuff of dreams. But he runs like the wind, has a fantastic attitude and did extremely well in the Arizona team this Fall. I hope they at least give him a chance this Spring.
The Marlins farm system is definitely in a dry stage right now, but I think some teams might still be biters if Miami baits a trade with the players I mentioned. They have plenty of current minor leaguers with Major League experience, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that factor is enough to draw some attraction.
The Marlins have said they are done signing big free agent contracts. That said, a contract to a low-profile pitcher might not be too big, but I think they still want to acquire via trade. I would not support signing Oswalt, in my opinion, an old, inconsistent player is the last thing the Marlins need right now. Vasquez, however, might be a better option.
I do agree that we should keep Coghlan, Cousins, and Petersen until they prove themselves. With Gio Gonzalez now off the block, the Marlins would be going for Shields or Garza, as you said, and with the players discussed, I think the Marlins can find some takers.
Isn’t Oswalt a year or two younger than Vazquez?
You’re right, but Vasquez was consistent last year, and I feel that Oswalt is only going downhill from here. Even with Vasquez though, I’d only give him a one-year deal, depending on whether or not he even WANTS to come back.
Steven, I marvel at how well you write. Do you wish to remain in the sports field? If so, here area couple of books I would recommend. “The Glory of Their Times” has no equal and “The Days of Mr. McGraw” is close behind. If you want to learn about the immediate postwar years, Ralph Kiner’s two books are top of the line. If you ever have questions about baseball history, just ask. That is my strength. Once I might have had an effect on the save award if you would like to hear. My dad was bone specialist in Roy Campanella’s operation when he was crippled. I have all sorts of baseball memorabilia, most that I want to sell if you know any interested parties. Signed team baseballs of the 1951 Dodgers and Phil. Athletics…has Chief Bender’s autograph on it. Signed photo of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, about 15 Bill Goff Ball Park Lithographs, including the older, most valuable ones. Much more as well. I was at 1950 game when Richie Ashburn threw Cal Abrams out at the plate. It’s an interesting story if you want to hear. Here is my favorite quiz question. Without looking it up, who do you think has the most career triples since WWII? It’s baseball’s most exciting play and often ignored. For instance, many speak of records that will never be broken . Well Sam Crawfords record for career triples will stand longer than any other, and no one ever mentions it. Our Marlins should have our share of triples this coming year. I looked up the deepest part of Forbes Field in Pittsburgh when the batting cage was stored out there. It was 457 feet. Some day when you have a chance, look up Willie Mays putouts in CF and compare him with Richie Ashburn. Very interesting.
Thanks for the complement! I would really like to be a sports journalist (if my professional baseball aspirations fall through). Did your dad’s profession have any effect on you gaining all the memorabilia? Before you mentioned Sam Crawford, my first guess probably would have been Jackie Robinson considering his record of straight steals of home. Both records seem to have been the output of speed and smart aggression.
There was recently an article on Marlins.com about how the new park should play to the strengths of Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio since the deep outfield dimensions will let them run free. I can’t wait for April!
Stan Musial has the most triples since WWII. Kind of amazing for he was known as a power hitter. He was a rabbit when young; led Cardinals to WS in 42, 43, 44, and 46. Did you see how many more putouts Ashburn had than Mays and Mays was in the Polo Grounds for the first few years. Probably the largest CF since outfield fences were introduced. My dad got me the two signed baseballs at Spring Training in 1951. I have letter from Brooklyn Dodgers refusing to pay his bill. It broke his heart that he couldn’t do anything so Campy could walk again. He died 2 weeks later in room right next to Campy in the hospital.
I send a photo in a self addressed and stamped envelope to Stan Musial, Ted Klu…ski, and Carl Yaz telling them that I have a son who is a Polish left handed first baseman and I wanted him to have heros. All three signed the photo and returned it. Someday look at big Klu’s HRs vs. strikeouts. It is amazing. I have found sites where you can hear actual voices of players from the “dead ball era” if you ever want some. Also TV shows with Duke Snider, Campanella, Sal Maglie, etc.
It was a wonderful time growing up near NYC and having those 3 great teams. If you were a Dodger fan you hated the Yankees and vice versa. The Giants, a team that literally ruled baseball in NYC ( read “The Days of Mr. McGraw”) until Babe Ruth arrived, were not as popular in the 50s. My favorite player was Duke Snider. The poor guy hit 40 or more HRs 5 years in a row, then moved to CA and the damn Coloseum. RF power alley was 440 to a low of 375 for the next few years. He was only 31 years old when the team moved and it killed him. If he had stayed in Brooklyn or played on the Yankees with that short porch in RF, his stats would have been incredible.
Sam Crawford retired with about 330 triples. No one has come close to even 200 in the last 75 years or so. Jackie Robinson, who was the most exciting player I ever saw, never stole that many bases, stealing wasn’t a big thing then. However, he drove the pitchers crazy the way he danced off first base taking a lead. TV invented the split screen in order to show both him and the pitcher at the same time. Enough already, you’ve run into an old man with a lot of time and a wealth of stories and I don’t know when to stop.
Sounds like baseball has really changed a lot in the last few decades. Cool stories, though.
Since a lot of baseball heritage is rooted in those old stadiums you talked about, are you a fan of the stadium revolution (of the last 15 or so years)?
There is all sorts of ambilivance here. Some of the parks of the 50s, etc. were pretty bad. However, the cookie cuter all purpose stadiums of the next period were horrific. Especially so with the artificial grass. The new parks are magnificent. Better not only for baseball viewing, but also for the appeal to women and children. However, there are two drawbacks from my point of view. The first is how these new parks were actually financed. Milking the communities with threats of withdrawal and promises of added local prosperity have been shady in the first place and specious in the second. My other gripe, and this might be both personal and a result of my relative advanced age, is the price of refreshments at these ballparks. I find it completely incomprehensible that in this economy, virtually everyone in attendance is eating! I guess it says a great deal about our obesity, our fondness for immediate gratification. and our inability to allocate the spending of what one would hope is disposable income prudently. Eat first, then go to the game just like when attending a movie. Is it a ballpark, or a restaurant? I realize all of this is part of a much larger question. That being, due to the extravagent costs of taking a family to a game, is it now an “event” done once or twice a year rather than a more common pastime?
Baseball players were taken terrible advantage in the days before unionization, but now the absurdity of salaries have made attendance for “normal” fans a far too rare occurance. Dependence on TV revenue has had a deleterious long term effect, but one that baseball has had to contend with for the past couple of decades. That is the almost complete preponderance of night baseball, particularly for the playoffs and World Series. How can this marvelous sport attract young fans when they are in bed sleeping during the most critical games of the year? You would have had to experience the thrill of the World Series back in those days of old. Granted, other avenues of entertainment were not the attraction that they are now, but America, in a sense, stopped functioning in a “normal” way when the World Series took center stage.
It’s a different game. Some needed changes such as expansion, intergration, and the Wild Card, then the detested Disignated Hitter, agents, and the far too powerful union. Think of this: Hanley Ramiriz, could take just one year’s salary of 15 million, invest it at 5 per cent, and spend over two thoudand dollars a day for the rest of his life and never touch the principle! And that’s with just one year’s salary. Somewhere the law of diminishing returns has to reach our wonderful game and I hope it is soon.