Do you think Dontrelle Willis will be on the Opening Day roster? Is there any chance he will be traded? I hope not.

-- Michael C., Clermont, Fla.

 

You can pretty much put to rest any speculation that Willis or Miguel Cabrera will be traded. At last week's General Managers Meetings in Naples, Fla., I had two sources confirm both of the Marlins' young stars are not available for trades. Additionally, other media reports had sources reaffirming that the D-Train will not be on the move. With the payroll expected to be in the $25-$30 million range, Willis and Cabrera are budgeted for 2007.

 

If they remain with the team, will the Marlins seek to lock up either one for multi-year contracts? The front office's thinking is that if they do that, they would be deals of four years or more for a high dollar amount. Should the Marlins decide to go that route, they would want to lock up at least one or more years of each players' free agent-eligible years, since both will have the service time to be free agents after the 2009 season. Let's hope this answer puts to rest the continuous e-mails regarding whether Willis or Cabrera will be Marlins at the start of 2007.

 

Is it possible that Juan Pierre could make a return to the Marlins? The front office was fond of him, and he lives in Miami. He is good friends with Willis, and he's a good fit in center field. If Pierre can bounce back to his old form, he could help the lineup with him on top, then Hanley Ramirez and Cabrera.

-- Greory Y., Miami

 

Without question, Pierre is a favorite of the organization, and he was a difficult player to trade a year ago. The bottom line is, it comes down to money. The market is setting itself high, with several free agents already jockeying for higher dollars than in the past. Pierre also is talking with the Giants, a club that has more financial resources than the Marlins. So if Pierre is looking for $5 million or more over at least three years, it's going to be tough for the Marlins to absorb that. Still, the front office in the past has made some surprise signings: Ivan Rodriguez (2003) and Carlos Delgado (2005), and I wouldn't be surprised if they had at least one significant free-agent signing before Spring Training. It's doubtful that player will be Pierre.

 

Has Josh Johnson completely healed from the injury that caused the Marlins to shut him down in September?

-- Brad S., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

 

All indications are that the sore forearm muscle is better. Johnson experienced stiffness in the forearm during a game that featured a lengthy delay against the Mets at Dolphin Stadium. The long stoppage in play kept Johnson off the mound for an hour and 22 minutes. He was lifted immediately when he said he felt discomfort. Rather than risk pushing it, the 6-foot-7 right-hander didn't pitch the remainder of the season. Tests have shown the tightness was in his muscle, and there isn't believed to be any further damage. With rest, he should be ready to go at the start of Spring Training.

 

Near the end of the season, it seemed like Miguel Olivo allowed a lot passed balls. Do your think he was tiring out from playing almost every day? Are the Marlins planning on sticking with him for next season?

-- Josh D., Pembroke Pines, Fla.

 

Considering the stifling South Florida heat, it is tough for any catcher not to tire late in the season. For the most part, Olivo was pretty solid behind the plate. His .991 fielding percentage was fifth-best among National League regular catchers, and he committed seven total errors. You can compare that to former Marlins All-Star Paul Lo Duca, who had a .987 fielding percentage and 11 errors with the Mets this year.

 

In terms of throwing out baserunners, Olivo's .385 percentage was second only to St. Louis' Yadier Molina's .439 percentage. Olivo is arbitration-eligible, and his familiarity with the rotation makes him a favorite to be the everyday starter next season. Now, in my opinion, the catching development on the entire team will be interesting to watch. Former manager Joe Girardi, a catcher, and former bench coach Gary Tuck, a respected teacher of catchers, did an excellent job preparing Olivo.

 

Have a question about the Marlins?

Joe FrisaroE-mail your query to MLB.com Marlins beat writer Joe Frisaro for possible inclusion in a future mailbag column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content.

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Is there any word on a new stadium, or if the Marlins are going to move? Are cities like San Antonio, Las Vegas and Portland still interested?

-- Kendall D., Omaha

 

Stadium talks have been very hush-hush lately, which may actually be a good sign. When negotiating mega-million-dollar stadium deals, often the significant progress is made out of the public eye. The league is encouraging getting a stadium deal done in South Florida, and that's where the focus is. Coming out of the General Managers Meetings, Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy said he is optimistic the Marlins will get their stadium. The league wants to make it work in the Miami area, and now that the A's and Twins have their stadium deals in place, MLB is focusing more attention on the Marlins finalizing their stadium.

 

Some changes in the political landscape after the recent elections may rekindle talks of getting state money to help complete the funding. As for relocation, that is off the table right now. San Antonio made an impressive pitch this past spring, but they were put on hold several months ago. Las Vegas never was a candidate, largely because of the gambling issue. Marlins officials didn't visit Las Vegas after they were given permission to seek relocation.

 

Now that talks have swirled around the Marlins and Rocco Baldelli of Tampa Bay, what is the Devil Rays' asking price? Would Ricky Nolasco and Paul Mildren, plus Jose Garcia and Yusmeiro Petit -- all hard to let go -- be right?

-- Marcos L., Kissimmee, Fla.

 

Baldelli would be a nice fit, but that may be too much to part with. Nolasco, like the rest of the rotation, isn't expected to be dealt. The strength of the club is the young starters, and teams aren't inquiring about the Marlins' starters because they know how tough it is to part with quality arms, especially affordable ones. Obviously, Tampa Bay wouldn't just give Baldelli away, so Florida has to be creative in its approach to making a deal for a talented center fielder.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if more of a minor deal is made to fill this need, because the asking price for Baldelli may be higher than the Marlins are willing to pay. As a fallback plan, Alfredo Amezaga has shown he can handle the position for the short term. Reggie Abercrombie and Eric Reed may also get chances. This position once again may be shared, but the organization is working hard to find a more stable answer.

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...sp&c_id=fla

As a fallback plan, Alfredo Amezaga has shown he can handle the position for the short term. Reggie Abercrombie and Eric Reed may also get chances. This position once again may be shared, but the organization is working hard to find a more stable answer.

 

Is this a joke or simply a nightmare? Amezaga, Reggie and Reed again? We have TWO holes that must be addressed this off-season, CF and the Pen. Alfredo, Reggie and Reed are not addressing the issue.

Amezaga, Abercrombie and Reed are not options in any way, shape or form!

Nolasco, like the rest of the rotation, isn't expected to be dealt. The strength of the club is the young starters, and teams aren't inquiring about the Marlins' starters because they know how tough it is to part with quality arms, especially affordable ones.

 

It's stuff like that that makes Frisario hard to read as an "insider."

 

Either he's too close to the forest to see the trees or he loves misinformation because I don't think anyone thinks that there isn't action on our starters, and that Nolasco isn't the most likely to go. That isn't to say he's bad or has little value, but I will be shocked if both Nolasco and Jacobs are on the opening day roster next season. And if they are, I have a funny feeling we won't be much improved over last year.

Sign Kenny Lofton to a one year deal! He can still play and is better than some of these names being mentioned like David Murphy.

Sign Kenny Lofton to a one year deal! He can still play and is better than some of these names being mentioned like David Murphy.

 

Yeah, that's a good Idea for temporarly solution until we get our stadium, and then we could go after someone like Vernon Wells.

I do like the yare talking of miggy and willis long term

Sign Kenny Lofton to a one year deal! He can still play and is better than some of these names being mentioned like David Murphy.

 

I am for this! But I also wouldn't mind Amezaga taking over.