slugger Carlos Delgado creates a trickle-down effect in the Marlins' organization.

With Delgado under contract for four -- and possibly five -- years, the Marlins are set long-term at first base.

 

Feeling the impact is minor league power-hitter Jason Stokes.

 

Drafted in the second round in 2000, Stokes previously was projected as the first baseman of the future.

 

Now, he isn't sure where his future will be. On the 40-man roster for the first time, Stokes is at Spring Training striving to continue his improvement. If he impresses, Stokes is convinced he will have an opportunity, either with the Marlins or as a valuable trade option for another team.

 

"There is never a roadblock in this business," said Stokes, a 6-foot-4, 225-pounder who has 74 career minor league homers. "If you are good enough, they will find a place for you to play or get something of value for you, where you obviously would play for another team. Players' goals are to make it to the big leagues, no matter what team it is."

 

What Stokes is capable of doing remains to be seen because he's been hampered by a wrist injury the past few seasons.

 

"This past year, I kind of had a flare-up again," said Stokes, who is coming off a .272 season with 23 homers and 78 RBIs in Double-A. "It was pretty irritating. For the second half of the season, it gave me some problems. I still managed to get over 400 at-bats in. I wanted to have a full season and get closer to 500 at-bats, because that's just what I wanted to do. It didn't work out, but I'm fine right now."

 

Marlins manager Jack McKeon commonly tells players in Stokes' situation to keep plugging away.

 

"I try to explain to young guys, you look at it two ways," McKeon said. "You're a salesman. You can't worry about Delgado. You just have to go out and bust your butt and do your best to perform, because if we can't use you, you're selling yourself to someone else. Now, that's the positive side. The negative side is if you say, 'I don't have a chance.' You get those negative vibes and consequently you are not prepared for when the opportunity comes. "

 

 

Willis, seven others sign: A year from now, Dontrelle Willis will be in line for a significant pay raise. The lefty starter will then be eligible for arbitration.

 

As of now, he has less than three years of experience, and he is under club control.

 

On Thursday, Willis completed a formality by signing a one-year contract.

 

Willis is one of eight players to sign one-year contracts Thursday. The others are pitchers Ronald Belisario, Logan Kensing and Justin Wayne, along with catchers Matt Treanor and Josh Willingham. Infielder Joe Dillon and outfielder Chris Aguila also have new deals.

 

Four-man rotation: At least for the first few starts of Grapefruit League games, a four-man rotation will be used. The Marlins have yet to set the order, but when the games begin on Wednesday against the Dodgers in Vero Beach, the four pitchers who will go on three days' rest are Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett, Al Leiter and Willis, in no particular order.

 

Fifth starter Ismael Valdez is being brought along more slowly, and he will not be part of the early rotation.

 

 

"We're holding back Valdez for a few more days," McKeon said. "We're letting him take his time."

 

Valdez arrived to camp a few days late because of a death in the family back home in Mexico.

 

McKeon has gone with a four-pitcher rotation in the past, using Beckett, Willis, Brad Penny and Carl Pavano last year.

 

The idea is to build up the starters so they can be ready to go at least seven innings by Opening Day on April 5 against the Braves.

 

Intrasquad games: Intrasquad games are set for Sunday and Monday on the back fields at Roger Dean Stadium. Both start times are about 11:30 a.m. ET, and the four- or five-inning games will feature primarily the minor league prospects.

 

For the most part, the regulars will be held out.

 

"We're trying to look at these 36 pitchers we've got," McKeon said. "This may be the only chance to get a real good look at them."

 

Fish bites: Mike Lowell celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday. ... Spring is giving the Marlins the chance to decide whether to use Logan Kensing as a starter or a reliever. Kensing, called up last September, was initially thought to be in the rotation for Double-A Carolina. Now, they want to see if he can relieve

 

 

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...5news&fext=.jsp

:lol @ the title

hopefully he absolutely tears up the minors this year and stays healthy until July so that his value will be nice and high.

hopefully he absolutely tears up the minors this year and stays healthy until July so that his value will be nice and high.

694785[/snapback]

yes please!

You betcha ! :thumbup

The title is hilarious!!! :lol

Nothing wrong with having too much talent

hopefully he absolutely tears up the minors this year and stays healthy until July so that his value will be nice and high.

694785[/snapback]

 

Funny, I was thinking the same thing about Willingham...

Anyone know whether Stokes has experience at any other position, or whether he has the speed or defensive skills to quickly learn another position?

 

Dillon, for example, has had by most press accounts, difficulty making the transition to the outfield. I wonder what else Stokes could do (besides playing first) to find a way onto the Marlins roster. What we don't need is treat him the way we did Admin Sutton, who on another team would have been given a better opportunity to contribute based on his successes in Albuquerque.

Anyone know whether Stokes has experience at any other position, or whether he has the speed or defensive skills to quickly learn another position?

 

Dillon, for example, has had by most press accounts, difficulty making the transition to the outfield. I wonder what else Stokes could do (besides playing first) to find a way onto the Marlins roster. What we don't need is treat him the way we did Admin Sutton, who on another team would have been given a better opportunity to contribute based on his successes in Albuquerque.

695106[/snapback]

 

When Adrian Gonzalez was still in our system, Stokes was learning the outfield. I'm not saying he's going to be a great outfielder, or even a decent one, but he was considered more capable than Adrian Gonzalez of handling the position change. Kind of like Richie Sexson in Cleveland when Thome was there, and Ryan Howard in Philly while (again) Thome blocks him...

Anyone know whether Stokes has experience at any other position, or whether he has the speed or defensive skills to quickly learn another position?

 

Dillon, for example, has had by most press accounts, difficulty making the transition to the outfield. I wonder what else Stokes could do (besides playing first) to find a way onto the Marlins roster. What we don't need is treat him the way we did Admin Sutton, who on another team would have been given a better opportunity to contribute based on his successes in Albuquerque.

695106[/snapback]

 

When Adrian Gonzalez was still in our system, Stokes was learning the outfield. I'm not saying he's going to be a great outfielder, or even a decent one, but he was considered more capable than Adrian Gonzalez of handling the position change. Kind of like Richie Sexson in Cleveland when Thome was there, and Ryan Howard in Philly while (again) Thome blocks him...

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didnt he hurt his back once or twice trying to play the OF?.... Ill look for the article

 

edit: he hurt his back on a bad bed..... but from what I remember he may have been Kevin Millar like in the OF