Organizational report: Marlins back on the radar

Sports Weekly takes an in-depth look at each major league organization during the offseason, from the major leagues to the farm system. We start with teams with the worst records and move up.

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The Miami Marlins have been doing one of two things since entering the National League as an expansion franchise in 1993 — building up their roster or tearing it down.

Thus, they have won two World Series titles in their first 22 seasons — in 1997 and 2003 as wild cards — yet have finished above .500 six times and have yet to win an NL East title.

Clearly, the Marlins are back on the upswing heading into next season, though.

President of baseball operations Michael Hill and general manager Dan Jennings have had an eventful offseason that has been highlighted by locking up right fielder Giancarlo Stanton to the largest contract in North American professional sports history, a 13-year deal worth $325 million.

Fully aware of the Marlins' roller-coaster-type history, Stanton had an opt-out clause put into the contract that allows him to become a free agent following the 2019 season. He would walk away from a guaranteed $218 million, though, if he left.

But signing Stanton is only part of what the Marlins have done in an attempt to become contenders in 2015 after increasing their win total from 62 in 2013 to 77 last season.

They traded for Cincinnati Reds right-hander Mat Latos, Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon and New York Yankees third baseman Martin Prado and signed first baseman-outfielder Michael Morse as a free agent.

"They want to win, and they're showing it right now," Morse says. "This organization is on the rise once again."

The Marlins hope the additions will excite a fan base long jaded by the buildups and tear-downs along with revelations that owner Jeffrey Loria was less than forthcoming about the team's finances while securing public funding for the construction of Marlins Park.

The average attendance has been 22,790 a game through the first three seasons in the facility.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," Loria says of next season. "All we've got to do is play well and start to win, and people will be responsive."

The Marlins have had a losing record in each of Stanton's five seasons, and he admitted to being hesitant about signing for the long term, skeptical about Loria's checkered history in running the franchise.

"They had the contract there, and I put it aside and said, 'Listen, what are we going to do to make this better?'" Stanton says. "I'm financially good for the rest of my life. Great. But I'm not coming here to get my butt kicked for 10 hours every day and then going home to a lavish lifestyle. That's not fun for me."

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POSITION-BY-POSITION (*prospect):

Catcher: Jarrod Saltalamacchia struggled offensively and defensively last season in the first year of a three-year, $21 million contract he signed as a free agent after helping lead the Boston Red Sox to the World Series championship in 2013. The Marlins are confident in the 29-year-old switch-hitter. They exercised their $1.5 million option for next season on backup Jeff Mathis, who is outstanding defensively but does not hit well enough to play regularly. Jhonatan Solano, brother of Marlins infielder Donovan Solano, was signed as a minor league free agent to provide depth and give prospect J.T. Realmuto more time to develop at Class AAA.

Depth chart: Saltalamacchia, Mathis, Solano, *Realmuto, *Chris Hoo.

First base: Morse, who grew up in South Florida and attended the Marlins' inaugural game, was signed for two years and $16 million to replace Garrett Jones, who was traded to the Yankees. Morse provides right-handed power and a good clubhouse presence, which helps offset his subpar defense. Left-handed hitting rookie Justin Bour will get a chance to win a bench job after hitting at least 17 home runs in each of the last four minor league seasons. Jeff Baker, a right-handed hitter, could spell Morse against tough left-handed starters and will serve as a backup at second base, at third base and in the outfield corners.

Depth chart: Morse, Bour, Baker, *Viosergy Rosa, *Felix Munoz.

Second base: The Marlins think Gordon can spark a potentially explosive offense from the leadoff spot after topping the NL with 60 stolen bases last season, though his on-base percentage was .326. Donovan Solano has been the Marlins' starting second baseman at various points in recent seasons but profiles better as a utility infielder. Derek Dietrich once was considered the second baseman of the future but now is blocked by Gordon at the major league level and has prospect Avery Romero coming up in the farm system.

Depth chart: Gordon, Solano, Baker, Dietrich, *Romero.

Third base: Though Casey McGehee returned from a season in Japan to become the NL comeback player of the year last season, the Marlins might have made a significant upgrade at the hot corner by getting Prado from the Yankees in a trade for Jones and hard-throwing right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Journeyman Scott Sizemore will provide depth at Class AAA along with Zack Cox, a former top prospect whose star has faded.

Depth chart: Prado, Solano, Baker, Sizemore, *Cox.

Shortstop: It seems only a matter of time before Adeiny Hechavarria starts winning Gold Glove awards, as he possesses great range and a strong arm. Defensive excellence is what likely will keep Hechavarria in the lineup for the long haul because, though he hit .276 last season, he lacks power and on-base skills. Veteran Reid Brignac will serve as an insurance policy at Class AAA, where the middle infield situation could get crowded with prospects Miguel Rojas and Austin Nola also expected to begin the season there.

Depth chart: Hechavarria, Solano, Brignac, *Rojas, *Nola.

Left field: Christian Yelich is an exciting player who is 23 and has already played 206 games. He has good speed, he gets on base and his power is developing. The Marlins envision Yelich settling into the No.2 spot in the batting order and combining with Gordon to give them a one-two punch at the top of the lineup for years to come. The Marlins are looking to add a veteran fourth outfielder but are intrigued by the potential of Austin Wates, who was acquired with right-hander Jarred Cosart from the Houston Astros last July in a trade

Depth chart: Yelich, Wates, Baker, Cole Gillespie, *Austin Dean.

Center field: Marcell Ozuna does not get as much hype as some of the Marlins' other young players, but he hit 23 home runs in 2014, his first full major league season, and the 24-year-old has the look of a future star. One concern, though, is that Ozuna does not command the strike zone well. He also needs work defensively. Kenny Wilson has hit .232 in seven minor league seasons since the Toronto Blue Jays chose him in the second round of the 2008 draft, but the Marlins like his athleticism and think he has upside.

Depth chart: Ozuna, Wates, *Wilson, *Kentrell DeWitt, *Yefri Perez.

Right field: Stanton, 25, belted an NL-high 37 home runs last season and has 154 in his career. If he wasn't the face of the franchise before, he is now after signing the monster contract and seems well-equipped to handle the responsibility both from a playing standpoint and off the field because of his maturity. One question is how Stanton will respond after seeing last season end two weeks early when he was hit in the face by a pitch from the Milwaukee Brewers' Mike Fiers. If Stanton opts out of his contract in five years, the Marlins think they will have a quality replacement ready by that time in top-prospect Isael Soto.

Depth chart: Stanton, Wates, Baker, Gillespie, *Soto.

Starting pitchers: Lacking a No.1 starter with 2013 NL rookie of the year Jose Fernandez likely out until midseason while rehabbing after Tommy John elbow surgery, the Marlins dealt for Latos to fill the void. Like Morse, Latos grew up a Marlins fan in the South Florida area, which could lead to him to signing an extension rather than testing free agency at the end of next season. Following Latos in the rotation, the Marlins have a pair of talented youngsters in Cosart and Henderson Alvarez. Veteran Dan Haren was acquired from the Dodgers in the trade for Gordon but is considering retiring rather than leaving his native Southern California. If Haren does not report to spring training, two rotation spots will be open for competition among Tom Koehler, David Phelps, Brad Hand, Andre Rienzo, Chris Narveson and prospects Justin Nicolino and Jose Urena.

Depth chart: RHP Latos, RHP Cosart, RHP Alvarez, RHP Haren, RHP Koehler, RHP Phelps, LHP Hand, RHP Rienzo, LHP Narveson, LHP Nicolino, RHP Urena, RHP Fernandez.

Bullpen: Steve Cishek is a dependable closer who has converted 73 saves in 79 opportunities over the last two seasons. The Marlins have received plenty of trade interest in Cishek but prefer to hold on to him in order to make a push for a postseason spot. A.J. Ramos and durable Mike Dunn are effective setup men in front of Cishek. Bryan Morris turned around his career last season after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Marlins traded for the Kansas City Royals' Aaron Crow in November with the hope he will follow suit.

Depth chart: RHP Cishek, RHP Ramos, LHP Dunn, RHP Morris, RHP Crow, LHP Hand.

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PROSPECTS TO WATCH

RHP Tyler Kolek: The Marlins used the second overall pick in the 2014 draft to select the 6-5, 250-pounder out of high school in Shepherd, Texas. Many veteran scouts think Kolek might have been the hardest-throwing prospect in high school baseball history, as he routinely reached 100 mph. The fastball is the 19-year-old's only plus pitch at this stage amid a repertoire that includes a curveball, slider and changeup. However, Kolek's fastball is so dominant that he might need to develop only a second reliable pitch to be a high-quality major league starter. He struggled in his professional debut, going 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in nine games in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

LHP Justin Nicolino: He was the Southern League pitcher of the year in 2014, going 14-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 28 games for Class AA Jacksonville while walking 20 in 1701/3 innings. Nicolino, 23, thrives because of his outstanding control and command, as he pounds the bottom of the strike zone and induces weak contact with his 89- to 91-mph fastball, curveball and changeup. Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Jose Reyes trade after the 2012 season, Nicolino should be a solid major league starting pitcher at some point.

C J.T. Realmuto: A star quarterback and shortstop in high school in Midwest City, Okla., he signed for $600,000 as the Marlins' third-round draft pick in 2010 and was immediately converted into a catcher. Realmuto has turned into a good defender behind the plate and can stop a running game with his strong arm. Realmuto, 23, had a .299 batting average and eight home runs in 97 games with Jacksonville and reached the majors.

2B Avery Romero: Romero, 21, who hit .320 in Class A in 2014, hits line drives to all fields. While Romero (5-8) has the range to play shortstop, his arm is below average and he is better suited for second base.