It looks as if 28-year old righty swinging Jorge Cantu will likely be the starting 3B for the Marlins in 2010. It’s still possible though that he could wind up starting at 1B in 2010. Cantu played in 149 games for the Marlins last season and he was 169 for 585 (.289 avg, .788 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 16 homers, 100 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Marlins need Cantu to hit well again in 2010 to make up for his iron mitt. Cantu played in 45 games at 3B last season for the Marlins and he made 7 errors while showing pathetic range. His range is about the width of a phone booth at 3B.

33-year old righty swinging Wes Helms will be the backup 3B in 2010. Helms played in 113 games for the Marlins last season and he was 58 for 214 (.271 avg, .682 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 3 homers and 33 RBIs. Helms played in 70 games at 3B for the Marlins last season and he made 7 errors while showing slightly below average range. Helms main role is giving the Marlins pop of the bench and he will likely do a decent job of that again in 2010.

24-year old switch hitting Emilio Bonifacio played in 86 games at 3B for the Marlins last season and he made 14 errors there while showing slightly below average range. Bonifacio is a natural 2B and he looked out of place at the hot corner.

25-year old lefty swinging Jorge Jimenez was a Rule 5 Draft Pick over the winter and the Marlins will give him every opportunity to earn a spot on the 25 man roster. Jimenez played in 133 games in AA-ball last season and he was 144 for 498 (.289 avg, .787 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 13 homers, 87 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2010: C

26-year old righty swinging Hanley Ramirez got dropped to third in the batting order in 2009 and he responded with a monster season. Ramirez played in 151 games for the Marlins last season and he was 197 for 576 (.342 avg, .953 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 24 homers, 106 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. In his four years with the Marlins, Ramirez has averaged 117.5 runs scored, 25.8 homers, 78.3 RBIs and 41 stolen bases per season. Ramirez improved his defense last season as he made 10 errors in 146 games at SS in 2010 while showing below average range. This might be the season that Hanley Ramirez adds a N.L. MVP Award to his trophy case after leading the National League in batting average in 2009.

24-year old switch hitting Emilio Bonifacio will backup Ramirez at SS in 2010. He played in 20 games at short for the Marlins last season and he made 3 errors while showing awful range. The Marlins better hope Ramirez stays healthy in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2010: A+

The Marlins have signed 32-year old righty reliever Mike MacDougal to a minor league deal. MacDougal will make $700,000 bucks if he makes the Marlins’ pitching staff and he can earn an extra $75,000 bucks in incentives. MacDougal pitched in 52 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 1-1 with 20 saves, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 314 games (3 starts) in his major league career and he is 14-21 with 70 saves, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. I like this move for the Marlins as MacDougal could help them out late in games if he starts throwing more strikes.

The Marlins have signed 33-year old righty swinging outfielder Jason Lane to a minor league deal. Lane played in 113 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 104 for 411 (.253 avg, .810 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 13 homers, 47 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Lane last played in the majors in 2007 with the Padres and Astros. He has played in 497 games in his major league career and he is 291 for 1,208 (.241 avg, .771 OPS) with 165 runs scored, 61 homers, 189 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Lane will get a chance to compete for a backup job in the outfield for the Marlins this spring.

The Marlins have signed 34-year old lefty swinging 1B/3B Mike Lamb to a minor league deal. Lamb played in 119 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 115 for 440 (.261 avg, .669 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 5 homers and 53 RBIs. Lamb last played in the majors in 2008 with the Twins and Brewers. He has played in 936 games in his major league career and he is 739 for 2,668 (.277 avg, .751 OPS) with 380 runs scored, 69 homers and 345 RBIs. Lamb will have a shot this spring to earn a job on the bench for the Marlins.