What The System Has Produced Lately: Righthander Josh Beckett used the postseason as his coming-out party. The Marlins also wouldn't have won the World Series without outfielder/third baseman Miguel Cabrera and lefty Dontrelle Willis (originally signed by the Cubs), who arrived much earlier than expected. GM Admin Beinfest deserves credit for aggressively using prospects to trade for key players such as Jeff Conine (righties Denny Bautista and Don Levinski), Mark Redman (lefties Rob Henkel and Nate Robertson, righty Gary Knotts) and Ugueth Urbina (first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, outfielder Will Smith, lefty Ryan Snare). Lefty Tommy Phelps pitched in the back of the bullpen last year.
Best-Stocked Position: The Marlins still have talent in their system after all their promotions and trades, but no position jumps out. The lefthanded starters come the closest, led by Scott Olsen, a sixth-round steal in 2002, and Bill Murphy, acquired from Oakland for Redman in December. Olsen has more power to his stuff than most southpaws, while Murphy has command of three pitches. Jon-Michael Nickerson, a 16th-rounder last June, threw a no-hitter in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League after being signed away from a Jacksonville State basketball scholarship. Lefthander David Marchbanks, a 2003 seventh-rounder, reminds scouts of Redman.
Best Teenage Prospect: Righthander Jeff Allison, 19, had the best fastball and the best curveball in the 2003 draft, and the Marlins stole him with the 16th overall pick because other teams worried about his signability. If there's another Beckett, Allison is it.
Prepare For Takeoff: Righty Lincoln Holdzkom had shown a mid-90s fastball and a questionable attitude, but he seemed to turn a corner last June after a confrontation with low Class A Greensboro manager Steve Phillips. Holdzkom also has a hard curveball and could serve as a big league set-up man by season's end. Pro hitters have batted just .178 and have yet to homer against him.
Time Is Running Out For: Like Choo Freeman (see Rockies), Chip Ambres was a 1998 first-round pick who turned down the chance to play football for Texas A&M. A high school quarterback known for his speed, Ambres has been slowed by leg injuries, most significantly a broken right fibula in 2001. He controls the strike zone and shows gap power, but he doesn't have a standout tool and hasn't hit consistently.