Marlins’ fans can thank the MLB Players’ Union for the fact that 29-year old righty swinging Dan Uggla will be back starting for them in 2010. The Union put pressure on the Marlins to start spending some of the revenue sharing they get on player payroll which resulted in Uggla not getting traded. Uggla played in 158 games for the Marlins last season and he was 137 for 564 (.243 avg, .813 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 31 homers and 90 RBIs. Since coming over to the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft 4 years ago, Uggla has averaged 99.8 runs scored, 30.3 homers and 90 RBIs per year. Uggla’s bat more than makes up for his iron glove in the field. He made 16 errors in 158 games while showing pretty poor range in the field. Whether Uggla lasts the whole year as a Florida Marlin will likely depend on how well the team is playing at the All-Star break. If the Marlins are still in the hunt for the playoffs look for Uggla to be a Florida Marlin for all of 2010.

24-year old switch-hitting Emilio Bonifacio will be the Marlins utility man in 2010. He played in 127 games for the Marlins last season and he was 116 for 461 (.252 avg, .611 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 1 homer, 27 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Bonifacio played in 7 error-free games at 2B for the Marlins last season while showing poor range. This is Bonifacio’s natural position so the Marlins would probably give him the first crack at the starting 2B job if Uggla got either hurt or traded.

26-year old lefty swinging Danny Richar was signed as a minor league free agent over the winter to help provide depth at 2B in 2010. He played in 7 games for the Reds last season and he was 2 for 8 (.250 avg, .583 OPS) with 1 run scored. Richar also played in 47 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 49 for 169 (.290 avg, .768 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 4 homers, 16 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Richar only played in 1 game at 2B for the Reds last season and the ball didn’t get hit to him. Richar is an average defender at 2B.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2010: B+

The Marlins have signed 28-year old righty reliever Seth McClung to a minor league deal. McClung pitched in 41 games (2 starts) for the Brewers last season and he was 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. He has now pitched in 177 games (51 starts) in his major league career and he is 26-34 with 6 saves, a 5.46 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. It’s doubtful that McClung will be anything more than a mop up man in the pen for the Marlins next season unless he starts throwing more strikes.

The Marlins have signed 29-year old righty reliever Jose Veras to a minor league deal. He pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Indians & Yankees last season and he was 4-3 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Veras has now pitched in 128 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 9-6 with 3 saves, a 4.42 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. I like this signing for the Marlins as Veras should pitch better with the Marlins than he did in the American League.

The Florida Marlins have signed 32-year old righty reliever Derrick Turnbow to a minor league deal. He pitched in 8 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 0-1 with a 8.53 ERA and a 3.16 WHIP. He walked 9 batters and allowed 11 hits in only 6 1/3 innings in the minors last year. Turnbow has now pitched in 257 games (1 start) in his major league career and he is 17-16 with 65 saves, a 4.30 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has only allowed 206 hits in 257 2/3 innings in his major league career while whiffing 265 batters which shows what kind of stuff he does have. But, he has walked 168 batters which is way too many. It will be interesting to see if the Marlins can turn him around.

Righty starting pitcher Kevin Brown was a key part of the 1997 World Champion Florida Marlins’ team. He only pitched two years for the Marlins but he was outstanding with them leading the N.L. in ERA in 1996 (1.89). Brown pitched in 65 games (all starts) for the Marlins and he was 33-19 with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Despite only being with the Marlins two seasons, Brown is still tied for 9th in Marlins’ history in wins (33), tied for #3 in complete games (11) and he is #3 in shutouts (5). Brown was only a Marlin for two years but they were two great ones for both him and the Marlins.