The Marlins traded two of the best players in team history in the off season (Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis) just to save some cash. True, Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller are two of the better prospects in baseball but it’s very possible that neither of them will be ready for the 2008 season. Switch hitting Mike Rabelo will probably be the starting catcher as he was also acquired in the big trade with the Tigers but he’s not much with the bat. He projects out to a career backup. The Marlins have brought in Jorge Cantu, Dallas McPherson and Jose Castillo on minor league contracts to battle for the right to replace Miguel Cabrera. No matter who wins the job it will be a huge dropoff in production. Veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez was signed on to be a good role model for the kids on the Marlins but he’s starting to lose his skills. The Marlins also wasted money in bringing in Mark Hendrickson who absolutely has stunk his whole career.

OFF SEASON GRADE FOR THE FRONT OFFICE: F

Luis Gonzalez has signed a 1-year, $2 million dollar contract with the Marlins with incentives that could net him an extra million. Gonzalez is now 40 years old but he can still swing the stick a little from the left hand side. Gonzalez played in 139 games last season for the Dodgers and he was 129 for 464 (.278 avg, .792 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 15 homers, 68 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Gonzalez has now played in 2,455 games in his major league career and he is 2,502 for 8,816 (.284 avg, .869 OPS) with 1,382 runs scored, 346 homers, 1,392 RBIs and 127 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Gonzalez gets as he appears blocked at the corner outfield spots by Jeremy Hermida and Josh Willingham. The Marlins could trade first baseman Mike Jacobs to make room for Gonzalez.

The Marlins have signed 27 year old lefty swinging Dallas McPherson to a 1-year contract. McPherson will battle Jorge Cantu and Jose Castillo for the starting third base job in spring training. McPherson missed all of last season with a back injury as he last played in the majors in 2006 with the Angels. McPherson has played in 117 games in his major league career and he is 89 for 360 (.247 avg, .755 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 18 homers and 45 RBIs. With his power comes the whiffs however as he has struck out a stunning 121 times in his career already.