--C Matt Treanor is recovering well from surgery Oct. 1 to repair three muscle tears in his left hip. He is expected to be ready for spring training, as the recovery time is three to six weeks.
--3B Jorge Cantu, who hit .277 with 29 homers and 95 RBIs, expects to return to the Marlins next year. He's one of 15 Florida players eligible for arbitration. "I know it's going to take a little more effort next year because we almost went to the playoffs (this year)," he said. "I know with a strong team next year this team's going to be something else."
--The Marlins sent four players to the organization's new Class AAA affiliate in New Orleans: RHP Doug Waechter, RHP Lee Gardner and RHP Henry Owens and OF Alejandro De Aza. All four players had health issues in 2008.
--RHP Ryan Tucker was named the organization's minor league pitcher of the year, and INF Logan Morrison was named the minor league player of the year.
Tucker, 21, finished the season with the Marlins after posting a 5-3 record with a 1.58 ERA in 25 appearances with Class AA Carolina.
Morrison, 21, hit .332 in 130 games for Class A Jupiter (Fla.). He had 13 home runs and 74 RBIs.
--Manager Fredi Gonzalez was named NL Manager of the Year by The Sporting News. He led the team, picked by many in spring training to finish last, to a 84-77 finish, third place in the NL East in his second year as manager.
--3B Matt Dominguez, the Marlins' first-round pick in 2007, had arthroscopic surgery this month to remove bone chips from his left (non-throwing) elbow. He is expected to be ready for spring training. Dominguez hit .296 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs in 88 games for Class A Greensboro in 2008. He missed the early part of the season with mononucleosis.
BY THE NUMBERS: 15 -- Arbitration-eligible players the Marlins' front office must deal with this winter.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't foresee 15 players (getting traded), but we are going to make some changes (and) improvements. That goes without saying. I think every team does it." -- Manager Fredi Gonzalez.
