In 2002, the Marlins selected Josh Johnson in the fourth-round of the First-Year Player Draft.

The 6-foot-7 Oklahoma resident made his big league debut as a September callup in 2005. 

This season, the 25-year-old had a breakout season. Emerging as the team's ace, Johnson finished 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA, and he was selected to the National League All-Star team.

Drafted and groomed in the Marlins system, the organization would like to keep the right-hander around for a long time. Johnson is in his second year of arbitration, but the Marlins are hoping to sign him to a multi-year contract in the upcoming weeks.

Team officials internally are discussing signing Johnson for at least four seasons. But at this point, no offers -- even preliminary -- have been made.

In 2009, Johnson earned $1.4 million, plus another $50,000 in incentives because he reached 33 starts.

Indications are it will take more than $40 million over four years to get the deal done. That figure could rise to about $45 million, or even more.

Kansas City ace Zack Greinke signed a four-year, $38 million contract for 2009-12.

To sign Johnson, it appears the Marlins would have to top that.

The Marlins open their new ballpark in 2012 and the team would like to have Johnson anchoring their rotation. The only Florida players signed for 2010 are All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez and veteran infielder/pinch-hitter Wes Helms.

-- Joe Frisaro

The Marlins are in the process of filling their coaching staff. Teams typically don't make announcements during the playoffs. So after the World Series, the club is expected to make their moves official.

On Monday, the Marlins hired Randy St. Claire as their new pitching coach.

A few other positions currently are unfilled, including first base, third base and bullpen coach.  A name that has surfaced to fill a position on the staff is Jamie Quirk, who played 18 years in the big leagues. A former first-round pick of the Royals in 1972, Quirk retired as a player in 1992.

He also has coached 15 years in the big leagues. Quirk has played and coached in the World Series.

Quirk was the Rockies bench coach in 2007, the year they lost to the Red Sox in the Fall Classic. Since 2008, he's been a scout for the Reds.

This year Quirk was the third base coach for the United States World Cup team.

As a player, he was used all over. His primary position was catcher, but he also played third base, first base and the outfield. He also very limited action at shortstop and second base.

If hired, Quirk could fill any number of positions, including working with the infielders or outfielders.

He played on the Royals 1985 World Series championship team.

St. Claire, meanwhile, is replacing Mark Wiley. After relieving Wiley of his pitching coach duties, the Marlins offered him the opportunity to remain with the organization in another capacity. Indications are Wiley will stay on with the Marlins.

Before joining the Marlins as pitching coach in 2008, Wiley was a special assistant for the Rockies, where he did a great deal of scouting.

-- Joe Frisaro
 

Speculation continues to run high that the Marlins will trade outfielder Jeremy Hermida this offseason.

The 25-year-old former first-round pick in 2002, came off a rough season, batting .259 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs. A strained right oblique on Sept. 2, limited him to one pinch-hit appearance in the final weeks of the season.

Hermida will be entering his second season of arbitration. He made $2.25 million this year, and by the nature of the system, he'd be in line for a raise.

The Marlins are hopeful Cameron Maybin will win the center field position, and Cody Ross is expected to return. Ross, also in his second season of arbitration, could be earmarked for right field, making Hermida expendable.

Some teams believed to be interested in Hermida are the Mariners, Rays, Mets and Blue Jays. The Cubs also could have interest.

Even though Hermida has yet to perform as so many envisioned, he does have value on the open market. He still would be a more affordable option than many soon-to-be free agent outfielders. Also, in arbitration, a team could control his rights for two seasons.

Several scouts feel Hermida may be one of those players who benefits by a change of scenery.

-- Joe Frisaro

Hanley Ramirez is up for another honor.

The Marlins All-Star shortstop is a finalist for the Players Choice Award, which is selected by the MLB players.

The MLB Players Association announced on Thursday that Ramirez is a Player of the Year finalist, along with Minnesota's Joe Mauer and St. Louis' Albert Pujols.

Ramirez in 2009, became the first Marlin ever to win the batting title, posting a .342 average. Mauer won the American League batting title with a .365 batting average. Pujols belted 47 homers to go along with a .327 batting average and 135 RBIs.

Winners will be announced in a series of segments on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning (6-10 a.m. ET). The announcements will begin on Monday and continue through Friday.

-- Joe Frisaro

With so many outfield prospects in their system, Alejandro De Aza got caught in a numbers game.

The Marlins didn't have a priority to retain the 25-year-old, who now will be getting an opportunity to play elsewhere.

The White Sox on Wednesday claimed De Aza off waivers.

At Triple-A New Orleans, De Aza batted .300 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs. He also appeared in 22 games for the Marlins, and he had 20 at-bats, batting .250 with a double and three RBIs.

Injuries hurt De Aza in recent years.

De Aza won the starting center field job in Spring Training of 2007, but early in the season he suffered an ankle injury that limited him to 45 games that year. He missed all of 2008 due to injury.

The Marlins are projecting Cameron Maybin will be their Opening Day center fielder. The team also has Rookie of the Year candidate Chris Coghlan in left field.

The Marlins also have outfield prospects John Raynor, Scott Cousins, Jai Miller and Bryan Petersen, who is in the Arizona Fall League.

Florida's top prospect is outfielder Michael Stanton, a 19-year-old also getting some extra work this fall in Arizona.

-- Joe Frisaro

Throughout the playoffs, we've seen late-inning heroics and thrilling comeback victories.

On Monday, both games were decided by comebacks. Jimmy Rollins provided some two-out, walk-off drama in the ninth inning to rally the Phillies past the Dodgers in Game 4. Rollins lined a two-run double off Jonathan Broxton to lift his team to a 5-4 win.

Earlier in the day, the Angels overcame a three-run deficit and beat the Yankees, also 5-4, in 11 innings when Jeff Mathis came through with a walk-off double.

The Yankees certainly have had their share of clutch hits in the playoffs. In the A.L. Division Series, Alex Rodriguez had a ninth inning homer off Joe Nathan to help rally his team. And A-Rod also went deep in the ninth inning off Brian Fuentes of the Angels to pull the Yankees even in the A.L. Championship Series.

Resiliency, obviously, is a characteristic of a championship-caliber team. That's why it isn't shocking that the four teams in their respective League Championshp Series also are the teams that paced the Major Leagues in comeback wins during the regular season.

What many people probably don't know is the Marlins were fifth in the big leagues in rallying to wins.

The Marlins didn't wind up in the playoffs, but they did win 87 games. In 41 of those victories, they trailed at some point.

The top five comeback teams in 2009 were:

* Yankees, 51
* Angels, 47
* Phillies, 43
* Dodgers, 42
* Marlins, 41

The Marlins 41 comeback victories is two behind their franchise record.

Florida's top comeback seasons are:

* 43 in 2008
* 43 in 1997
* 42 in 2007
* 41 in 2009
* 41 in 2000.

The 1997 Marlins, of course, won the World Series, and the 2008 squad finished with 84 wins.

-- Joe Frisaro

On the radar for the Marlins' pitching coach position is Bryan Price.

The Marlins, however, are not alone.

"He's on everybody's list," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Marlins have contacted Price, who has drawn interest from a few other teams, including the Reds.

Years ago, Florida president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest worked for the Mariners when Price also was in the organization.

There also is speculation that Price may be waiting to see what Bob Melvin does. Melvin and Price are close friends, and both opened the season with the Diamondbacks. But when Melvin was dismissed as manager, Price stepped down out of loyalty.

Melvin is a candidate for the Astros managerial job.

The Marlins are in the market for a pitching coach after Mark Wiley was not retained. The team also has a bullpen coaching position open because Steve Foster turned down a contract to return.

There are a number of names on the market who are drawing attention for pitching coach jobs. Not all necessarily choices for the Marlins. But these are names within the industry that are being tossed around for a number of teams. 

Carl Willis was recently released as pitching coach of the Indians. Chuck Hernandez was athe Indians bullpen coach before being dismissed.

A name to keep an eye on is Bryan Harvey, an original Marlin, who is the pitching coach for Double-A Tulsa in the Rockies system. Harvey's son, Kris, pitched for Florida's Class A Jupiter squad this season.

Rick Peterson is a front-runner for the Brewers pitching coach job. He formerly was with the A's and Mets. Peterson has also been linked to the Reds.

Dick Pole was dismissed earlier this month as the Reds pitching coach, but he is highly respected.

Another possible candidate to return as a big league pitching coach is Tom Hume, formerly with the Reds.

-- Joe Frisaro

With the offseason upon us, I once again will be writing a weekly inbox (formerly the mailbag) column.

So anyone with questions on the Marlins are encouraged to e-mail me at joe.frisaro@mlb.com.

I try to answer as many as possible. A number of fans ask similar questions, so I'm expecting lots of Dan Uggla, payroll, will J.J. sign a long-term contract, and trade speculation questions.

I look forward to the questions.

-- Joe Frisaro

The Marlins have a few more coaching vacancies.

On Friday, the team announced third base/outfield coach Bo Porter and bullpen coach are not returning for 2010.

Bench coach Carlos Tosca, hitting coach Jim Presley and bullpen coordinator Pierre Arsenault accepted contracts for next year.

The Marlins now have four coaching positions open.

Pitching coach Mark Wiley and first base/indield coach Andy Fox were not offered contracts.

-- Joe Frisaro

The Marlins wrap up their season on Sunday at Philadelphia, and out of the lineup for the last day are Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu.

Ramirez bruised his right knee in Saturday's 4-3 win, while Cantu's right foot is in a walking boot after he sprained his right ankle while stepping awkwardly on second base in the sixth inning.

Ramirez will win the National League batting title, as he carries a .342 average into the final day. Cantu on Saturday collected his 100th RBI before being injured.

Marlins lineup:

1) Coghlan, LF

2) Maybin, CF

3) N. Johnson, 1B

4) Helms, 3B

5) Uggla, 2B

6) Paulino, C

7) Carroll, RF

8) Bonifacio, SS

9) J. Johnson, P

-- Joe Frisaro

With one regular season game remaining, already some offseason speculation has begun.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Marlins have had conversations with Bobby Valentine about a possible position within the organization.

The 59-year-old Valentine has managed the Rangers and Mets in the big leagues. The past six years he was managing the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. Recently, he returned to ESPN as an analyst. Valentine also is drawing interest from Cleveland and Washington, ESPN reports.

It is unclear what position the Marlins would have interest in Valentine. Manager Fredi Gonzalez received a two-year extension at the beginning of Spring Training, and he's under contract through 2011.

The Marlins have yet to make a decision on the status of their coaching staff. On Saturday, President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest said that would be made after the season.

The Marlins are 87-74 heading into the last game of the season at Philadelphia, and they will finish no worse than in a second-place tie with Atlanta. They lead the Braves by one game with one game remaining. The only Marlins teams to win more games are the 1997 (92) and 2003 (91) squads. Both those teams won the World Series.

-- Joe Frisaro

After getting a day off on Friday, Hanley Ramirez is back in the lineup on Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Ramirez is closing in on the first batting title ever by a Marlin.

Marlins

1) Coghlan, LF

2) Maybin, CF

3) Hanley, SS

4) Cantu, 1B

5) Uggla, 2B

6) Helms, 3B

7) Paulino, C

8) Carroll, RF

9) Sanchez, P

Phillies

1) Rollins, SS

2) Victorino, CF

3) Utley, 2B

4) Howard, 1B

5) Ibanez, LF

6) Werth, RF

7) Feliz, 3B

8) Ruiz, C

9) Hamels, P

-- Joe Frisaro

The power of positive thinking has worked for Jorge Cantu.

Entering Saturday with 99 RBIs, Cantu wasted little time reaching the century mark.

In the first inning, Cantu lined a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hanley Ramirez for his 100th RBI of the season.

It's the second time in his career that he's posted 100 RBIs. In 2005, he drove in 117 with Tampa Bay in 2005.

Considering the fact Cantu finished August with 71 RBIs, reaching the century mark seemed remote five weeks ago.

After driving in his 100th run, Ramirez embraced Cantu at home plate, and Cantu received a warm reception in the dugout.

"It's the confidence that I have," Cantu said after he drove in three runs on Friday. "I've been a competitor every single season. Even if I have a bad one [year] or a good one, my mind is always positive. As a hitter, it's showing. It's concentration. I always finish the season strong. I've seen my stats in the past, I've always finished strong."

Cantu has certainly picked up the pace. Since Sept. 1, he has 28 RBIs. His overall game has elevated. In  the 29-game span, he is batting .336 with an on-base percentage of .377 and a .487 slugging percentage.

A year ago, Cantu drove in 95, which paced the team.  

Cantu has been especially effective driving in runs in the first inning. His 36 RBIs in the first are the most of any player in the Major Leagues.

His 25 RBIs in September was the third most in the National League.

Cantu had a chance in the seventh inning to collect his 100th RBI when he had runners on first and third. However, on he didn't chase a 3-1 pitch, taking it for ball four.

"I wanted to get greedy," said Cantu, who took the walk. "But I couldn't swing at that pitch. It was too low."

-- Joe Frisaro

Last Saturday, Cody Ross was drilled on the left wrist by a John Maine fastbal.

The Marlins outfielder hasn't played since, and chances are he won't play in the final series against the Phillies. In fact, it's extremely doubtful that Ross will play. But that isn't stopping him from doing whatever he can to get back into action before the season ends on Sunday.

"I want to get back out there," Ross said. "I want to finish the season. I don't want to finish on the bench."

All the want is being tempered by some lingering soreness on the wrist. He has taken some dry swings in recent days, but he hasn't done any hitting. On Friday he was going to test the wrist in the cage.

Ross has had a solid season rotating between center field and right field. In the field, he has played to the level the organization feels he is worthy of a Gold Glove.

At the plate, Ross has established himself as well. In 151 games, he is batting .270 with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez has not ruled out using Ross in the final series. However, Gonzalez notes the wrist "is a little tender. Hopefully, it will improve."

"He's going to have to tell me that he's good to go," Gonzalez said.

-- Joe Frisaro

Hitless in his last 11 at-bats, Hanley Ramirez was given Friday off. It was expected, as Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said on Wednesday that he likely will sit his two-time All-Star shortstop.

The slump has lowered Ramirez's batting average to .341, which leads the National League.

Ramirez is striving to become the first Marlin ever to win a batting title. San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval is second at .330.

It would take something drastic for Ramirez not to win the title.

"I think it's a lock," said Cody Ross, Ramirez's teammate. "He deserves it."

As impressive as Ramirez has been, he has labored for a few weeks. Consider, on Sept. 13, he was batting .361. Since then, he is 11-for-62 (.177) with one home run, two doubles and six RBIs.

Before heading to Philadelphia, the Marlins faced the Braves in Atlanta. Ramirez was 0-for-10 in the series.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez says this may be the worst he's seen Ramirez swing the bat in three years.

"The thing I see, like with any prolonged slump, you start swinging at pitches out of the strike zone," Gonzalez said. "That's the only thing I see. That's the thing Pres [hitting coach Jim Presley] sees. You start swinging at ball one, ball two. Then you've dug yourself in a difficult situation because you swung at balls out of the strike zone."

No Marlin has ever finished with a batting average higher than .340. The team record is Miguel Cabrera's .339 in 2006. Cabrera that year finished second to Freddy Sanchez, then with the Pirates, in the batting title race.

-- Joe Frisaro

When it's all said and done, Hanley Ramirez will be able to boast one of the best offensive seasons in the history of the Marlins.

The two-time All-Star is in line to win the franchise's first batting title. The 25-year-old will have to wait a few days to see if that happens.

Regardless of the batting race, Ramirez already has achieved a rarity in team history.

With 105 RBIs and 100 runs scored, he is the fourth Marlin to reach the century mark in both categories.

Overall, it has been done five times in Florida history. Miguel Cabrera did it twice.

Marlins with at least 100 runs and RBIs:

* Gary Sheffield (1996), 120 RBIs, 118 runs.

* Cliff Floyd (2001), 103 RBIs, 123 runs. 

* Miguel Cabrera (2005), 116 RBIs, 106 runs; (2006) 114 RBIs, 112 runs.

* Hanley Ramirez (2009), 105 RBIs, 100 runs.

-- Joe Frisaro

For the first time since Sept. 25, Nick Johnson is back in the Marlins starting lineup. While Johnson, who has dealt with the flu, returned, All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez was given the day off.

Ramirez, who leads the National League in hitting with a .341 average, was expected to get this day off. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said on Wednesday that he would give Ramirez Friday off. The team also was off on Thursday.

The Marlins finish their season against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

1) Coghlan, LF

2) Maybin, CF

3) Johnson, 1B

4) Cantu, 3B

5) Baker, C

6) Uggla, 2B

7) Carroll, RF

8) Bonifacio, SS

9) VandenHurk, P

-- Joe Frisaro

Lost in all the swings and misses on Wednesday night at Turner Field was rookie Chris Coghlan continuing to do his thing.

Coghlan went 1-for-5, and his single was his 47th hit in September.

Once again, there was historical value on the hit. The last MLB rookie to have as many as 47 hits in September was Chuck Klein, who had 50, in 1928.

The Marlins have three more games to go, beginning on Friday night at Philadelphia.

An NL Rookie of the Year favorite, Coghlan is batting .318 on the season. He will establish a franchise record for highest batting average. Hanley Ramirez (2006) and Jeff Conine (1993) each finished at .292.

Coghlan's 107 hits since the All-Star Break are the most of any player in the Major Leagues.

The Marlins record for hits after the break is 113, set by Juan Pierre in 2004. That may be a tough number for Coghlan to catch.

-- Joe Frisaro