Florida Marlins 2003 Finish: 91-71, 2nd NL East	Select Team Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Devil Rays Diamondbacks Dodgers Expos Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

Josh Beckett Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Batting Order
CF	Juan Pierre Won stolen-base title by 10.
2B	Luis Castillo Has hit at least .300 in four of past five seasons.
RF	Miguel Cabrera Never played right field until Game 3 of NLCS.
3B	Mike Lowell Led Marlins in HRs and RBIs despite missing one month.
LF	Jeff Conine Career .295 hitter with runners in scoring position.
1B	Hee Seop Choi Hit .164 in 67 big-league at-bats after mid-year concussion.
SS	Alex Gonzalez Hit just .208 after the break.
C	Ramon Castro Has hit HR every 14 at-bats past two seasons.
Rotation
RHP	Josh Beckett Still just 17-17 in regular season career.
RHP	Brad Penny Could ride two World Series wins to greater heights.
LHP	Dontrelle Willis Just 5-5 with 4.60 ERA after the All-Star break.
RHP	Carl Pavano Had worst run support among Marlins starters.
RHP	A.J. Burnett Due back by June 1 after Tommy John surgery.
Bullpen
RHP	Armando Benitez Blew eight saves after botching seven previous two years combined.
RHP	Chad Fox Allowed .190 average after Aug. 12 rescue from Triple-A.
LHP	Michael Tejera Lefties hit .392 against him.
RHP	Mike Neu Former University of Miami closer walked too many in Oakland.
RHP	Blaine Neal Recovering from elbow surgery; might not be ready for spring.
Prospects
OF	Jeremy Hermida Sweet lefty stroke evokes a young Paul O'Neill.
OF	Jason Stokes Must cut down on strikeouts but raw power is impressive.
LHP	Scott Olsen Former sixth-rounder has opened eyes with polished repertoire.

In 1997 the wild-card Marlins followed a World Series victory by selling off their stars for parts. The 2003 Marlins repeated the first part of the equation, then treaded dangerously close to the second part as well. Ivan Rodriguez, Derrek Lee, Ugueth Urbina, Braden Looper, Juan Encarnacion and Mark Redman all left either via trade or free agency. Still, the reconfigured Marlins believe they have enough left to contend in the National League East.

This remains the team's biggest strength, although Redman, a 14-game winner, will be missed after being traded to Oakland. Josh Beckett has a career mark of 17-17 but is determined to break through to another level after his World Series MVP performance. Brad Penny won two games against the Yankees and has big-time stuff, as he showed at times during a career-best 14-win season. Carl Pavano remained healthy and showed why he was so hyped as a young Red Sox prospect. Rookie of the Year Dontrelle Willis wore down in the second half, but some of that decline was due to off-field demands. Hitters seemed to catch up with his funky delivery late in the year, but he'll be fine if he sharpens his command. The X-factor is A.J. Burnett, who should return by June 1 after Tommy John surgery. Burnett was the ace in 2002 and vows to come back better than ever with his new elbow.

Urbina and Looper are gone, leaving the heavy lifting to new closer Armando Benitez and holdover setup man Chad Fox. At his best, Benitez can be among the most intimidating closers in the game, but he was the one who seemed intimidated for much of 2003. Benitez blew eight of 29 save chances last year but has converted 85 percent of his chances over his career. Right-hander Mike Neu, acquired from the A's in the Redman deal, will get a chance to bridge the gap between the starters and the specialists but must improve his command. There's still no proven situational lefty, a deficiency the Marlins were somehow able to overcome in October. Michael Tejera likely has long-man duties again.

They don't come any flashier up the middle than Luis Castillo and Alex Gonzalez, who will stay together after all. Castillo, who won his first Gold Glove, turned down a richer offer from the Mets to stay with the Marlins for at least $16 million over three years. It will be interesting to see how Castillo handles the first multi-year contract of his quietly impressive career. Gonzalez signed a two-year deal after a bittersweet second half and postseason. His Game 4-winning home run off the Yankees' Jeff Weaver has been the defining blow of a maddeningly inconsistent career. This could be Gonzalez' year to win a Gold Glove of his own.

The Marlins had to make a tough call on which corner salary to dump: Lee or third baseman Mike Lowell. In the end they settled on moving Lee, despite the fact he was coming off career-bests in several offensive categories as well as his first Gold Glove. At least they got young Korean slugger Hee Seop Choi from the Cubs in return. If Choi struggles, as he did in Chicago, veteran Jeff Conine could always move in from the outfield. Lowell, who was a year away from free agency, signed a deal that could be worth as much as $32 million over four years if the club secures funding for a new stadium. Coming off a career year, Lowell is eager to prove he is past the broken left hand that wrecked his September.

For a slap hitter who wasn't supposed to be worth much away from Coors Field, Juan Pierre sure converted a lot of doubters last year. Pro Player Stadium is well suited to his gap-seeking offensive game. Defensively, he makes up for a below-average arm with good instincts and hard work. Conine, a.k.a. Mr. Marlin, is solid in left and is signed for two more years, same as Pierre. Miguel Cabrera had never played the outfield until getting moved at Double-A Carolina three games before his June 20 promotion. He looked so good in right during the postseason, the Marlins opted to deal Encarnacion to the Dodgers. Cabrera looked comfortable hitting cleanup in the World Series and figures to remain a middle-of-the-order presence for the next decade-plus.

Rodriguez had perhaps the greatest October of any free agent in history, but he and the Marlins could not work out a return engagement. Both parties will suffer as a result. The 10-time All-Star's departure apparently left the catching chores back in the hands of Mike Redmond and Ramon Castro. Redmond, a selfless backup type, is much better than his defensive and offensive numbers from a year ago would indicate. Castro, who was facing a rape trial in Pittsburgh, has tantalized with his power in spot play the past two seasons. His receiving skills are strong but rusty after serving as the No. 3 catcher for two straight seasons.

Heady infielder Mike Mordecai, author of a pair of game-winning homers early in the second half, returns for a third year with the Marlins. All-time pinch hits leader Lenny Harris was invited back as well, but the cerebral Andy Fox moved on after a miserable year of minimal action. Versatile Brian Banks proved valuable in the outfield, but a new fifth outfielder must be found after Todd Hollandsworth left as a free agent. Eternal prospect Abraham Nuñez is another possibility after a huge winter in his native Dominican Republic.

Openly questioned from the moment it arrived from Montreal, the Marlins braintrust tasted sweet vindication with the unlikely World Series run. Owner Jeffrey Loria showed his willingness to endorse costly and unconventional moves, with the signing of Rodriguez and the July deal for Urbina being just two examples. General manager Larry Beinfest was rewarded with a contract extension through 2007. Ageless manager Jack McKeon was brought back for one more year with the hopes he'll be able to manufacture lightning again.

On paper the Marlins would appear to have little chance of defending their World Series crown. Then again, who would have expected them to do what they did in 2003? Many key pieces remain, beginning with the starting pitching and three-quarters of the regular infield. The loss of leaders such as Rodriguez and Lee and the failure to substantially increase the $54 million payroll will only heighten the challenge. If they get approval for a new stadium, perhaps Loria will find more "special money" for a late addition, as he did a year ago with Rodriguez.

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