2010 Fantasy outlooks: Florida Marlins

The Marlins managed to do something with nothing again last season, finishing second in the competitive NL East despite having the lowest payroll in baseball. Now with the players union on their case, demanding they spend more of their revenue-sharing dollars on payroll, they have a rare opportunity to do something with something.

So far, their increased spending hasn't resulted in any roster changes. They gave a long-term deal to Josh Johnson, showing confidence in the young ace's health after injuries limited him early in his career, and shied away from trading slugging second baseman Dan Uggla, avoiding arbitration by agreeing to pay him $7.8 million. Those two signings signal a change in philosophy for the Marlins. As they prepare to move into their new ballpark in 2012, they might actually keep some of their homegrown talent instead of trading it all away.

And as usual, that talent is plentiful, led by All Star Hanley Ramirez, a clear top-five pick in Fantasy based on his stellar numbers at a weak position. Uggla doesn't quite offer the same all-around production, but his power makes him a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter to go along with Jorge Cantu. Chris Coghlan, whose .372 batting average in the second half made him the league's top rookie, gives the Marlins another offensive weapon, but he'll have to hit for more power to become a standout Fantasy option. Of course, the lineup won't meet its full potential until 20-year-old prospect Mike Stanton arrives in the big leagues, possibly by midseason. He and Logan Morrison take the pressure off disappointments Cameron Maybin and Gaby Sanchez, not that either is a lost cause yet.

The Marlins still have to sort out the back end of their rotation, where Chris Volstad, Sean West, Rick VandenHurk and Andrew Miller will compete for two spots, but each has enough upside to ensure the pitching staff as a whole will take a step forward this year.

Breakout: Ricky Nolasco, SP

Going into last season, Nolasco looked like an up-and-coming ace, boasting one of the best strikeout-to-walk ratios in baseball. Well, he maintained that ratio -- ranking fifth in it, in fact -- but his ERA ballooned to 5.06, leaving Fantasy owners to wonder which Nolasco was the real Nolasco. You might say he answered the question himself, posting a 3.82 ERA in 22 starts after a brief stint in the minor leagues -- a number inflated by three starts in which he allowed seven earned runs or more. Why exactly Nolasco struggled is a question better left for smarter men, but pitchers with WHIPs in the 1.25 range who average more than a strikeout per inning don't finish with ERAs over 5.00. Cliff Lee had a 3.22 ERA with numbers worse than that. Dismissing his 2009 as a fluke, Nolasco is potentially an elite option available in the middle rounds.

Bust: Jorge Cantu, 3B

Cantu will get plenty of attention on Draft Day coming off a 100-RBI season, and for anyone concerned about his decline in power, yes, the wrist injury made a difference. But so what? He'd still have to double his home-run total to match his career high of 29. Given his poor plate discipline, he has a long climb to get back to the numbers everyone assumes he'll repeat. And when you think of those numbers as the best-case scenario instead of the most likely scenario, his upside isn't much more than that of teammate Cody Ross, who tends to go undrafted in mixed leagues. Cantu is worth a late-round look if you need a corner infielder with power, but if someone wants to reach for him in the middle rounds, let them.

Sleeper: Anibal Sanchez, SP

Some Fantasy owners dismissed Sanchez as a lost cause after shoulder surgery wiped out most of his 2007 and 2008 seasons, and when he experienced renewed soreness in his shoulder last May, the rest followed suit. But perhaps they should have kept watching. Sanchez looked as good as ever when he returned to make nine starts at the end of the year, posting a 2.68 ERA and averaging 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings. He's a work in progress who'll have to make up for lost time, but considering his velocity -- typically the concern with shoulder injuries -- is back where it was when he threw his no-hitter in 2006, he's not as far off as most people think. You won't have to draft him in mixed leagues, but if he looks good in his first couple of starts, his upside makes him worth a waiver claim.

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