Baseball America's Marlins Top 10 Prospects

Would Hanley Ramirez or Anibal Sanchez figure into the Marlins Top 10 Prospects list? Where would they be ranked?

Paul Dumond

Madawaska, Maine

Where would Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez rank in the Marlins Top 10 now that the trade for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell looks to be going through?

Steve Liddell

Orlando

If you didn't have to figure in positional needs or salary, just overall value, who would you rather have? Hank Blalock and John Danks/Thomas Diamond; or Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado?

Thom Gentz

Ann Arbor, Mich.

We haven't written up the deal at Trade Central yet because it's pending the players passing physicals, but barring a surprise, the Red Sox will acquire Beckett and Lowell from the Marlins for Ramirez, Sanchez and Delgado. Additionally, physicals are all that's holding up another Florida trade that would send Carlos Delgado to the Mets for Yusmeiro Petit and Mike Jacobs. Needless to say, you'll see a very revamped Marlins Top 10 in the 2006 Prospect Handbook.

We're still sorting it all out, but here's how I'd line up Florida's Top 10:

1. Jeremy Hermida, of

The game's No. 2 outfield prospect, behind only Delmon Young

2. Hanley Ramirez, ss (from Red Sox)

Impressive tools but has yet to have a breakout season to match

3. Anibal Sanchez, rhp (from Red Sox)

Gets the nod over Olsen because he's closer to having three big league pitches

4. Scott Olsen, lhp

One of the better lefty pitching prospects in the entire minors

5. Yusmeiro Petit, rhp (from Mets)

Stats are more spectacular than his stuff, but has proven himself through Double-A

6. Josh Johnson, rhp

Though relatively unheralded, could crack Florida's rotation in spring training

7. Chris Volstad, rhp

The first and best of five pitchers the Marlins drafted before the second round in 2005

8. Aaron Thompson, lhp

Three-pitch lefty is extremely polished for a pitcher just out of high school

9. Josh Willingham, c/1b

Can't catch regularly in majors but should get more playing time with Carlos Delgado gone

10. Mike Jacobs, 1b/c

Ranked No. 4 on Mets list after hitting 11 homers in 100 big league at-bats

From a pure talent standpoint, I'd take Blalock and Danks, but you have to remember that trades aren't made in a vaccum where positional needs and salaries don't exist. Blalock will make $14 million over the next three seasons when the Marlins are looking to save money, and he plays third base, where Florida wants to move Miguel Cabrera to create room for Hermida in the outfield. Blalock's production also has leveled off, and while he's good he's not as promising as he looked in 2003.

The Marlins had a huge hole at shortstop, and there wasn't a better shortstop on the market than Ramirez. The Angels aren't trading Brandon Wood, the Diamondbacks aren't dealing Stephen Drew and the Dodgers' Joel Guzman will have to change positions. Ramirez fills a need better and is much cheaper than Blalock, while Sanchez and Jesus Delgado are quality arms.