1. Has enough been done to improve the most glaring weakness of the past three seasons -- shaky defense?
As hopeful as the team is that the defense will be improved, the bottom line is even the front office isn't sure. President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest spoke of the defensive woes of the past few seasons. Only time will tell, Beinfest told reporters recently. He added that if the defense remains spotty again, additional changes will be made. For now, the main moves are Gaby Sanchez replacing Mike Jacobs at first base, Cameron Maybin playing center field, and Cody Ross and Jeremy Hermida flip-flopping corner outfield spots. Ross will be in right field and Hermida in left.

2. Is Matt Lindstrom ready to take over as closer?
Last September, Lindstrom was a perfect 5-for-5 in save chances, giving the team optimism that the hard-throwing right-hander can handle the role. The team's thinking, though, is "you aren't a closer until you've closed." So while Lindstrom enters as the front-runner to replace Kevin Gregg, who was traded to the Cubs, he must show he is up to the task. Armed with a 100-mph fastball, Lindstrom has the talent. Key for him, however, will be the effectiveness of his secondary pitches, which will be needed to keep hitters honest. If Lindstrom struggles, Scott Proctor, Leo Nunez and Logan Kensing are fallback options.

3. Is the catching position secure?
John Baker was one of the unsung heroes from last year. When Matt Treanor went down with an injury in July, Baker stepped in, and after 6 1/2 years in the Minor Leagues, he capitalized on his big league break. In 2008, he stabilized the catching spot, batting .299 with five home runs and 32 RBIs. Disciplined at the plate, he had a .392 on-base percentage. But he has just 61 games of Major League experience and 83 days of service time. Is he ready to be the everyday catcher over the course of the long season? It's something the Marlins are evaluating. Mike Rabelo is going to get a chance to be the backup.

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4. Where to hit Hanley?
Will this finally be the season where Hanley Ramirez slides from leadoff to third in the order? The team has talked about this for a few seasons, and the club's stock answer is: "As long as Hanley is in the lineup, we're happy wherever he bats." Even though he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the game, Ramirez's numbers are far greater when he is leading off. Last year, he batted .304 with 32 homers, 63 RBIs and 31 steals in 135 games batting first. In 16 games, and 56 at-bats, hitting in the No. 3 spot, he batted .268 with one homer, four RBIs and four steals. If the switch to third is made, Ramirez will have to be more of a run producer than a speedster who scores a bunch of runs.

5. Can the offense strike out less and produce more?
A year ago, the Marlins hammered the third most home runs in the Major Leagues. Their total of 208 also set a franchise record. A byproduct of the power was a high strikeout ratio. Their 1,371 whiffs paced the Major Leagues. The team has made an effort to trim away some power in hopes of improving, not only in the field, but in terms of putting the ball in play more. Too often last year, the offense was all or nothing. There were days the team pounded out three or four home runs, but it also finished with more than 10 strikeouts. More disciplined hitting will be needed to be a serious contender.

2008 record
84-77, third in National League East

Projected batting order
1. CF Cameron Maybin:
  .277 BA, .375 OBP, .456 SLG, 13 HR, 49 RBI in 2008 (Double-A Carolina)
2. C John Baker:
  .299 BA, .392 OBP, .447 SLG, 5 HR, 32 RBI in 2008
3.SS Hanley Ramirez:
  .301 BA, .400 OBP, .540 SLG, 33 HR, 67 RBI in 2008
4. 3B Jorge Cantu:
  .277 BA, .327 OBP, .481 SLG, 29 HR, 95 RBI in 2008
5. 2B Dan Uggla:
  .260 BA, .360 OBP, .514 SLG, 32 HR, 92 RBI in 2008
6. LF Jeremy Hermida:
  .249 BA, .323 OBP, .406 SLG, 17 HR, 61 RBI in 2008
7. RF Cody Ross:
  .260 BA, .316 OBP, .488 SLG, 22 HR, 73 RBI in 2008
8. 1B Gaby Sanchez:
  .314 BA, .404 OBP, .513 SLG, 17 HR, 92 RBI in 2008 (Double-A Carolina)

Projected rotation
1. Ricky Nolasco, 15-8, 3.52 ERA in 2008
2. Josh Johnson, 7-1, 3.61 ERA in 2008
3. Chris Volstad, 6-4, 2.88 ERA in 2008
4. Andrew Miller, 6-10, 5.87 ERA in 2008
5. Anibal Sanchez, 2-5, 5.57 ERA in 2008

Projected bullpen
Closer: Matt Lindstrom, 5/6 saves, 3.14 ERA in 2008
RH setup man: Scott Proctor, 6.05 ERA in 2008 (Dodgers)
LH setup man: Renyel Pinto, 4.45 ERA in 2008

The new guys
Leo Nunez: A slender 6-foot-1, 175-pounder, Nunez has a lively arm. Obtained from the Royals for Jacobs, Nunez was 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 45 games with Kansas City last year. He will factor in a setup role and has the arm to be considered as a closer down the line. He has 106 games of Major League experience, and he will battle for a late-inning setup spot.

Proctor: Signed as a free agent, the 32-year-old right-hander immediately becomes the most seasoned reliever in a youthful bullpen. With the Dodgers last year, he appeared in 41 games and threw 38 2/3 innings. Proctor has 262 career appearances and is a backup plan to close if Lindstrom labors. He will be looked at as a veteran setup man. With the Yankees in 2006, Proctor threw 102 1/3 innings. While he has a history of being durable, a concern is that his arm hasn't absorbed too much wear and tear. Proctor had surgery in October to clean out a bone spur and repair a partially torn right flexor tendon. Ready to go when camp opens, the Marlins will likely be a little easier on him early in camp.

Emilio Bonifacio: A burner on the bases, the Marlins envision the day of having Maybin, Ramirez and Bonifacio in the batting order. A switch-hitter, Bonifacio is a natural second baseman who will be looked at in Spring Training at third base. The question is whether he can hit enough to be a big league regular. If he isn't ready, he may have to spend another year at Triple-A. The Marlins picked up Bonifacio from the Nationals as part of the Scott Olsen-Josh Willingham trade.

Zach Kroenke: In the Rule 5 Draft in December, the Marlins picked Kroenke out of the Yankees' system. He will get a look in a position that is wide open -- left-handed reliever. Because Kroenke is a Rule 5 claim, he has to make Florida's Opening Day lineup or he will be sent back to New York.

Dan Meyer: Caught in a numbers game in Oakland, the Marlins claimed Meyer off waivers, and the 27-year-old has a chance to hook on as a lefty out of the bullpen. He could be a situational southpaw, spot starter or long reliever. In 11 games with Oakland last year, he made four starts, while logging 27 2/3 innings.

Jose Ceda: An imposing 6-foot-4, 275-pounder, Ceda was acquired from the Cubs for Gregg. The right-hander has never appeared in the big leagues, but he is getting close. Many who have seen him pitch feel the Marlins made a solid pickup getting Ceda. If he isn't ready to contribute on Opening Day, he is someone to watch as the season progresses.

Jay Gibbons: A non-roster invitee, the left-handed-hitting outfielder is trying to get back into the big leagues for the first time since 2007. His Major League experience came from 2001-07 in Baltimore. In '03, he appeared in 160 games, belted 23 homers and drove in 100 runs. He was in 84 games and batted .230 with six homers and 28 RBIs in '07.

Prospects to watch
Logan Morrison: A left-handed-hitting first baseman, Morrison will also see some time in left field. After he dominated the Arizona Fall League, Morrison's stock has risen. He batted .332 at Class A Jupiter last year. While it is rare for prospects to jump from Class A directly to the big leagues, Morrison may be a realistic candidate. Conventional wisdom, however, says he will open in Double-A, but he is moving fast.

Chris Coghlan: A first-round pick, the left-handed hitter could be Florida's second baseman of the future, should the team decide after this year to not retain Uggla. In Spring Training, Coghlan, who batted .298 at Double-A last year, will also get a look at third base. He's regarded as a pure hitter, but not a big power threat.

John Raynor: Fleet footed, Raynor is a terrific defensive outfielder who is on the verge of being ready for the big leagues. He [hit .312 at Double-A last year. The jury is out as to whether Raynor is an everyday player or a reserve. He has excellent speed and is a strong hitter, but lacks substantial power.

Scott Cousins: He's part of an impressive group of young outfielders who are getting a look in Spring Training. He enjoyed a strong Arizona Fall League, and after being a standout at Class A last year, he was promoted to Double-A.

Michael Stanton: The 19-year-old outfielder is regarded as one of baseball's best overall prospects. He belted 39 homers and drove in 97 runs to go along with a .293 batting average at low Class A Greensboro last year. Rising fast and regarded as a future star, Stanton is basically hands-off in any potential trade talks.

Matt Dominguez: Like Stanton, Dominguez is one of the best prospects in the game. The 19-year-old third baseman has drawn comparisons to the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman and the Red Sox's Mike Lowell. He is a couple of years away from breaking into the big leagues, but he will get a taste of Major League life in Spring Training.

Sean West: He's part of the team's impressive 2005 Draft class. The 6-foot-8 left-hander likely could use a solid season at Double-A, but don't be surprised if he gets called up around midseason. The imposing southpaw has terrific talent and projects to seriously compete for a rotation spot in 2010.

Aaron Thompson: Also part of the 2005 Draft, Thompson is knocking at the door to making his Major League debut. At Double-A last year, he made 16 starts. He collected additional work at the Arizona Fall League and projects as a starter, but could be a lefty relief choice.

Kyle Skipworth: The club's No. 1 pick last year, Skipworth is the catcher of the future. A left-handed hitter, he will gain valuable experience being around the big league team in Spring Training, but he is regarded as a few years away from being ready.

On the rebound
Rabelo: Involved in a collision at home plate with Austin Kearns last year in Spring Training, Rabelo wasn't healthy the whole season. The Marlins will give him another look to back up Baker at catcher. A switch-hitter, Rabelo was limited to 34 games and he had 109 at-bats for Florida last year.

Burke Badenhop: Injuries limited Badenhop to 13 games, with eight starts for Florida last year. One of the surprises in Spring Training, Badenhop was added to the rotation early in the season, before he was switched to the bullpen. He was bothered by right shoulder inflammation, and later medical tests showed he had a bulging disc in his neck. Now healthy, he could be a factor as either a starter or reliever.

Miller: Projected to be part of Florida's rotation, Miller was slowed in 2008 by right patella tendinitis. The left-hander didn't make a start after the All-Star break. He will be given every chance to be in the rotation this spring.

Long gone
Olsen: The popular left-hander was traded to the Nationals as part of the Bonifacio trade. Olsen was one of Florida's most durable starters the past three years. He logged a career-most 201 2/3 innings last season.

Willingham: Included with Olsen in the trade with Washington, Willingham was a steady run producer in left field for Florida. He was bothered by back problems the past few years. When healthy, he hit in the middle of the lineup.

Jacobs: The power-hitting first baseman was traded to the Royals for Nunez. He belted 32 home runs and drove in 93, offering a power-hitting lefty bat.

Gregg: The big righty closed for the Marlins the past two seasons, but was dealt to the Cubs for Ceda. A respected professional and clubhouse leader in two seasons with Florida, he racked up 29 saves last year.

Arthur Rhodes: The veteran lefty reliever signed as a free agent with the Reds. He was obtained July 31 from the Mariners for pitching prospect Gaby Hernandez.

Luis Gonzalez: The veteran slugger started Opening Day 2008 in right field because Hermida was on the disabled list. The 41-year-old accepted the role as a reserve outfielder, along with being a mentor to a young squad.

Paul Lo Duca: The veteran catcher saw limited action backing up Baker late in 2008. Lo Duca appeared in 21 games for Florida, and he batted .294.

Joe Nelson: Non-tendered in December, Nelson signed as a free agent with the Rays. In a setup role, the veteran proved valuable in 2008, appearing in 59 games while posting a 2.00 ERA.

Matt Treanor: A longtime Marlin, Treanor was released during the Winter Meetings in December. He signed with the Tigers. Treanor was Florida's Opening Day catcher in 2008, but he was bothered by a left hip injury that limited his playing time in the second half.