MIAMI -- Initially signed to provide a veteran presence to a young Marlins rotation, Mark Hendrickson ended up being Florida's Opening Day starter this past season.

The 34-year-old on that day wound up losing to Johan Santana and the Mets, 7-2, on March 31. But the 6-foot-9 Hendrickson, who formerly played four seasons in the NBA, rebounded and went 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA in April.

By July, however, Hendrickson was struggling in a starting role, and he was switched to the bullpen. The Marlins replaced him in the rotation with rookie Chris Volstad, a 22-year-old rising star.

Now that the Marlins have reworked their rotation, the club and Hendrickson are prepared to move in different directions. On Friday, the veteran left-hander filed for free agency.

Hendrickson declared one day after catcher Paul Lo Duca filed for free agency. Outfielder Luis Gonzalez is the lone remaining free agent from the 2008 squad who has yet to file. None of the three are likely to be with Florida in 2009.

In his lone season with Florida, Hendrickson posted a 7-8 record with a 5.45 ERA in 36 games, including 19 starts. The left-hander signed with the Marlins for $1.5 million. He had an incentive to earn another $50,000 had he reached 20 starts.

As a starter, Hendrickson went 7-7 with a 6.24 ERA, while turning in 101 innings. He made 17 relief appearances, mostly as a long reliever, going 0-1 with a 3.03 ERA in 32 2/3 innings.

Hendrickson broke in with the Blue Jays in 2002. He also pitched for the Rays and Dodgers before hooking up with the Marlins.

For his career, he is 50-63 with a 5.07 ERA in 215 games, including 154 starts.