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Before the season even began, Miami Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco stood out as a virtual lock to be traded.Here we are a couple of months into 2013, and the word "virtual" no longer applies. We can go ahead and say that Nolasco is a lock to be traded.Last week, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reported that the Marlins were open to trading Nolasco, a free-agent-to-be whose $11.5 million salary is by far the biggest on the club's payroll. Now we're starting to hear about potential suitors.ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees have their eyes on Nolasco. Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com says that the San Francisco Giants are looking at Nolasco as a potential elixir for their uncharacteristic starting pitching woes.With the buzz building, here's a primer on all the trade-y goodness surrounding Nolasco. Trade Value: Better Than You Probably ThinkThere are sexier pitchers on the baseball landscape ...

Every season for the past four or five years, Marlins owner Jeffery Loria has said that if his team "does not make the playoffs, they have fallen short of the front office's expectations." While that might have been considered an unrealistic goal given the budget the past few seasons, using that criteria to analyze the team's productivity the past few years means that the Marlins have fallen well short of expectations.In an attempt to make sure this team at least competes within their division during the upcoming season, the Marlins' front office core has made significant moves that have dramatically improved their roster.While bringing in names such as Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle, the success of the Marlins in 2012 will most likely depend on players that have been on the roster for several years, such as Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson.An injury-plagued Marlins team struggled in 2011, however the ...

Ozzie Guillen was a terrific manager for the Chicago White Sox the last eight seasons, but the 47-year-old new skipper of the Miami Marlins is going to fall flat on his face in 2012. A World Series champion and former AL Manager of the Year (both 2005), Guillen has already set himself up for a few struggles next season and in one of the baseball’s most unforgiving divisions, it’ll be an uphill battle. After the Winter Meetings massive haul, expectations are immense for Guillen and the new-look Marlins next season. I don’t see how he is going to meet them.Begin Slideshow

Everybody knows about Hanley Ramirez: 2009 batting champ, five-tool stud and perennial first rounder.Everybody should know about Josh Johnson: Cy Young contender, career ERA of 3.10, a ton of potential.But what else, if anything, do the Marlins have to offer fantasy owners?In spite of the organization's everlasting dedication to penny pinching, the Marlins have a handful of players that are sure to impact this year's fantasy season.Here they are, by order of importance, along with their 2011 projection: 1. Michael Stanton—.265 BA, 36 HR, 93 RBI The first thing you notice when you watch Michael Stanton is how hard he hits the ball. He is listed at 6'5", 235 pounds, and he's only 21-years-old. The guy is like an athletic version of Adam Dunn. However, his plate discipline is abysmal. He's going to challenge Mark Reynolds for the major league lead in strikeouts. Nevertheless, his upside is still tremendous. He's going to hit his ...

With the majority of the major offseason activity behind them (trading Dan Uggla, Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin; acquiring Omar Infante, Mike Dunn, Dustin Richardson, Ryan Webb, and Edward Mujica; signing Javier Vazquez John Buck, and Randy Choate; extending Ricky Nolasco until 2013), we take a glance at the potential Florida Marlins lineup, starting rotation, bullpen, and bench and put it all together to come up with bold predictions for the 2011 season in a crowded NL East. Let's take an early look at what we can expect to see from the fish in their final season at Sun Life/Land Shark/Dolphin(s)/Pro Player/Joe Robbie Stadium.Begin Slideshow

The Florida Marlins have officially announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Ricky Nolasco to a three-year, $26.5 million contract extension.  The 28-year-old went 14-9 with a 4.51 ERA and missed the final month after undergoing arthroscopic right knee surgery when he tore his meniscus.  In the deal, Nolasco is expected to earn $6 million in 2011, $9 million in 2012 and $11.5 million in 2013, his would-be first year of free agency. He made $3.8 million last season and was due to get a pay raise in the neighborhood of $6 million had the two gone to arbitration.  According to the Associated Press, Nolasco said in a conference call with reporters that he has been running and exercising without any setbacks: "I should be 100 percent by spring training." Nolasco has gone 54-39 with a 4.45 ERA in five years with the Marlins, and his strikeout-walk ratio of 638-169 over that time is among the best ...

For the second time this offseason, the Florida Marlins have hit a stumbling block with one of their core players, this time it's pitcher Ricky Nolasco according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  The Marlins' first priority entering the offseason lay with getting an Uggla extension done first. Whether that failed or succeeded, they were to move towards locking up Ricky Nolasco past his arbitration years (2011 and 2012) and his first free agent year (2013). Talks, which began back in September, haven't been progressive and at this point money seems to be the holding pattern in a long-term deal, not years.  However, to consider a trade in an offseason which has shown the Marlins' willingness to be competitive (rare free agent signings of Javier Vazquez, John Buck and Randy Choate) seems far-fetched unless the front office receives an overwhelming trade offer.  Already this offseason, Nolasco's name has been ...

The Florida Marlins might be at it again, this time with a possible trade of Ricky Nolasco and Leo Nunez.  According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins are "gauging interest" in starting pitcher Nolasco and closer Leo Nunez. For months on end, the team has been trying to get extend Nolasco to a deal that would buy out two arbitration years and one year of free agency. However, such talks have stalled because the two sides are far apart on a salary figures. It shouldn't come as a surprise to gauge the interest of both pitchers in a pitcher-thin market. The high market teams such as the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels have targeted Cliff Lee with no significant ground made in talks and the loser of those talks could want to trade for a top of the rotation pitcher like Nolasco.  Such trade could yield a better return now ...

After various rumors circulating throughout the postseason as to who will manage the Florida Marlins in 2011, the ballclub wasted no timing in making a decision as they are expected to bring back interim manager Edwin Rodriguez on a full-time basis.  Edwin Rodriguez went 46-46 with the Marlins, ending up in third place in the NL East but dealt with injuries to ace Josh Johnson, co-ace Ricky Nolasco, and injuries to Hanley Ramirez and Chris Coghlan. Current Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was dismissed in late June at 34-36 and in fourth place in the NL East. Whether Edwin Rodriguez remains beyond the 2011 season remains speculative and hinges on the team's performance on this upcoming season eve to the new ballpark in 2012. Reports are that owner Jeffrey Loria is craving on a high-profile name in time for the 2012 season after swinging and missing on Bobby Valentine and Ozzie Guillen in recent ...

For several years now, it has been Major League Baseball tradition that cash-strapped teams shop one or more of their best players during the annual Winter Meetings. Lately, the biggest deals have been for elite pitchers: The Oakland Athletics traded Dan Haren to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2007--a deal that included current stars in pitcher Brett Anderson and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez--and the dominoes have fallen each winter since. Johan Santana, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are three other big names that have moved over recent offseasons, and it seems only logical to believe that someone of that general caliber will move this year.Who could be the biggest catches? There are no fewer than five legitimate trade candidates with a chance to make a long-term impact in a new home. Here they are:Begin Slideshow