Marlins.MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports Florida Marlins C John Baker will likely head into spring training the frontrunner to start.

Matt Treanor and Mike Rabelo were platooning behind the plate at the beginning of the season, but injuries to Rabelo and lack of production offensively at the position made catcher a target at the Trade Deadline. But Baker stepped up since joining the team on July 9 and, shortly thereafter, cemented the starting job for the rest of the year. Baker, a left-handed hitter with a good approach at the plate, figures to be a favorite to start for the team in 2009, but he needs to improve his defense.

Joe Frisaro, of MLB.com, reports Florida Marlins C John Baker is the favorite to start at catcher in 2009.

Matt Treanor underwent surgery last week to repair muscle tears around his left hip and an umbilical hernia. Treanor expects to be ready for spring training, though he doesn't know if he'll still be with the Marlins. He's a candidate to be non-tendered since he'd probably make close to $1 million in arbitration.Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Marlins catcher Matt Treanor had successful surgery to repair his hip, and would like to be back with the Florida Marlins next year, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "If the Marlins do keep me, I feel I would definitely be a positive in the clubhouse, but things happen," he said.Treanor is scheduled to be headed for salary arbitration if the Marlins choose to keep him. He has no fantasy value as a .238 hitter, and is more useful to Florida for his experience on a young team.

Joe Frisaro, of MLB.com, reports Florida Marlins C Matt Treanor (hip) underwent surgery to fix three muscles in his left hip area Thursday, Oct. 2. Treanor played the entire second half of the season knowing that surgery was inevitable. The normal recovery time is expected to be three to six weeks, and he should be ready for Spring Training next year.

The move doesn't necessarily mean the 28-year-old catcher will be leaving the Marlins organization. If he isn't claimed during the 72-hour waiver window, Rabelo could be outrighted to Florida's new Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans.

Looking to free up space on their 40-man roster, the Marlins placed catcher Mike Rabelo on waivers Thursday, according to MLB.com.Rabelo only played 34 games in the big leagues in 2008. He hit three home runs and an average of .202.

The Sports Network reports the Florida Marlins activated C Mike Rabelo (wrist) from the 60-day disabled list Wednesday, Nov. 12.

News: With the trade of Mike Jacobs to the Royals on Wednesday, it appears Jorge Cantu and Dallas McPherson will serve as the Marlins' corner men going into spring 2009.

Analysis: There should be other moves in the works, but we could see the logic of slotting both Cantu and McPherson full time. They have 30-homer potential and are nice sleepers in mixed leagues on Draft Day 2009, especially if they will both be full-timers

The Miami Herald reports if Florida Marlins 1B Mike Jacobs is traded, 3B Jorge Cantu may be shifted over to first to replace him.

What started as an open competition for third base in Spring Training between Cantu, Dallas McPherson and Jose Castillo -- now with the Astros -- ended with Cantu taking the reigns for the entire season and being one of the most consistent hitters in the team's lineup, mostly hitting in the No. 3 hole. Sustaining this resurgence might be difficult, given his all-or-nothing plate approach.

Tom D'Angelo, of The Palm Beach Post, is reporting Florida Marlins 3B Dallas McPherson is a candidate to replace 1B Mike Jacobs at first.

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reports the Florida Marlins believe 3B Dallas McPherson is ready for a big-league job.

The South Florida SunSentinel reports Florida Marlins 3B Dallas McPherson is considering a stint in the Dominican for winter ball, but he hasn't made up his mind.

Updating previous reports, Florida Marlins IF Wes Helms agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $1.9 million, according to The Associated Press. He will receive $950,000 over each of the next two seasons. Helms was coming off a $5.45 million, two-year contract which included a $750,000 buyout of a $3.75 million club option for 2009.

News: 3B Wes Helms and the Marlins agreed Friday to a $1.9 million, two-year contract. Helms batted .243 this year with five homers and 31 RBI in 132 games. It was the 32-year-old's second stint with the Marlins. He hit 10 homers and 19 doubles after signing with Florida as a free agent before the 2006 season. "After doing a great job for us in 2006, we welcomed Wes back to the Marlins this year, and he again strengthened our bench and was a positive influence in the clubhouse," general manager Larry Beinfest said in a statement. "We look forward to Wes being part of highly productive Marlins clubs in 2009 and 2010."

Analysis: Since 2005, Helms ranks fifth in the majors with 45 pinch hits, batting .296. He doesn't figure to play a starting role with the Marlins next year, which limits his Fantasy appeal to the deepest of NL-only leagues

Marlins agreed to terms with infielder Wes Helms on a two-year, $1.8 million contract through 2010. Helms gets another multiyear deal despite hitting .243/.299/.347 this season. Formerly a power hitter, he's contributed just 10 home runs to go along with his 127/36 K/BB ratio in 531 at-bats over the last two years. He's also a weak defensive infielder and a liability on the basepaths. He was a very effective pinch-hitter this season (13-for-41, two homers), but he went 4-for-32 in the same role in 2007. There just wasn't any good reason to give him a two-year deal. It's a foolish first move of the offseason for a team that keeps talking about improving defensively.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports Florida Marlins 1B Gaby Sanchez is the favorite to replace Kansas City Royals 1B Mike Jacobs at first base in 2009.

The Miami Herald reports if Florida Marlins 1B Mike Jacobs is traded, 1B prospect Gaby Sanchez may be tapped to replace him.

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reports the Florida Marlins are likely to trade 1B Mike Jacobs because they believe 1B Gaby Sanchez is ready to replace him. If Sanchez flopped, they could move 3B Jorge Cantu to first base.

In addressing the media, Beinfest talked about keeping the continuity up the middle of Hanley Ramirez and short and Uggla at second. Emilio Bonifacio, one of the three players acquired from Washington, will get his best look at third base, although he will get some time at second base and shortstop in Spring Training.

Clark Spencer, of The Miami Herald, reports Florida Marlins 2B Dan Uggla's salary is expected to increase to around $5 million through the arbitration process.

The Marlins reiterated to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that they plan to keep second baseman Dan Uggla despite his projected bump up to around $5 million.The Marlins apparently plan to use Emiliano Bonifacio as a utility player, which makes the deal with the Nats even more confusing. Anyway, Uggla should once again provide fantasy owners with plenty of pop, but he'll be even more exposed in what could be a weaker Marlins lineup.

Emilio Bonifacio homered and doubled Sunday for Licey of the Dominican Winter League. That doubles his homer total for the year, as he had just one in 398 at-bats in the minors and 169 at-bats in the majors last season. Bonifacio is batting .327/.428/.485 with four steals in 101 at-bats in the DWL.

The Marlins expect the recently acquired Emilio Bonifacio to be an everyday player for them, and they will try him out this spring at third base, according to the Palm Beach Post.This doesn't make sense, as Bonifacio is a good defender at second and Dan Uggla is not. We expect Uggla to eventually wind up at the hot corner and Bonifacio to hold down second.

Marlins acquired 2B Emilio Bonifacio, INF Jake Smolinski and RHP P.J. Dean from the Nationals for LHP Scott Olsen and OF Josh Willingham. And we thought Jim Bowden made a lousy deal when he sent Jon Rauch to Washington for Bonifacio. It worked out great for him, as it looks like another team is overrating the former Diamondbacks prospect just as much as he did. Bonifacio has great speed and excellent range at second base, but he's no major league hitter yet and he is error prone defensively. Our guess is that he spends a few years as a below average regular and then fades away. If the Marlins keep Dan Uggla, it could be that Bonifacio will get some additional Triple-A time at the beginning of next year. He probably wouldn't be useful in a utility role right away. It's both remarkable and pathetic that a team clearly good enough to contend would send away two useful and still relatively inexpensive veterans like this and get so little in return.Related: Dan Uggla, Nationals

Joe Frisaro, of MLB.com, reports the Florida Marlins are expected to retain IF Alfredo Amezaga for the 2009 season.

News: Marlins OF Alfredo Amezaga went 3-for-3 on Saturday against the Phillies. Amezaga also walked and scored a run.

Analysis: Amezaga has hits in seven of his last eight games with nine RBI over that span. He's hot right now and could deserve a start in deeper mixed Fantasy leagues over the season's final week

Amezaga's displayed an unprecedented burst of power recently, as he's cracked a double, two triples and a homer with nine RBIs over his last five contests. While he hasn't quite done enough to merit a definite mixed-league roster slot, the switch-hitting 30-year-old is batting .300 with a .550 slugging percentage this month and thus merits quite a bit of attention in the days ahead.

Tom D'Angelo, of The Palm Beach Post, is reporting Florida Marlins 3B Dallas McPherson is a candidate to replace 1B Mike Jacobs at first.

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reports the Florida Marlins believe 3B Dallas McPherson is ready for a big-league job.

The South Florida SunSentinel reports Florida Marlins 3B Dallas McPherson is considering a stint in the Dominican for winter ball, but he hasn't made up his mind.

News: With the trade of Mike Jacobs to the Royals on Wednesday, it appears Jorge Cantu and Dallas McPherson will serve as the Marlins' corner men going into spring 2009.

Analysis: There should be other moves in the works, but we could see the logic of slotting both Cantu and McPherson full time. They have 30-homer potential and are nice sleepers in mixed leagues on Draft Day 2009, especially if they will both be full-timers

The Miami Herald reports if Florida Marlins 1B Mike Jacobs is traded, 3B Jorge Cantu may be shifted over to first to replace him.

What started as an open competition for third base in Spring Training between Cantu, Dallas McPherson and Jose Castillo -- now with the Astros -- ended with Cantu taking the reigns for the entire season and being one of the most consistent hitters in the team's lineup, mostly hitting in the No. 3 hole. Sustaining this resurgence might be difficult, given his all-or-nothing plate approach.