Penn, 24, could earn a spot in the Marlins bullpen. Otherwise, the team might want him to be a starter at Class AAA.

--1B/OF Ross Gload was acquired from the Royals for a player to be named. Kansas City will pay most of his $1.9 million salary this year. Gload will fill a bench spot that otherwise might have gone to 1B Dallas McPherson, who was released.

--INF Emilio Bonifacio emerged and Gaby Sanchez struggled, causing a shift in the Marlins infield and batting order. Bonifacio won the third base job, forcing Cantu to first base and Sanchez, who had been penciled in as the first baseman at the start of camp, to Class AA New Orleans.

Bonifacio will probably leadoff, although the team won't decide until Sunday or Monday. Cameron Maybin, who had been penciled in at No. 1, will hit second or eighth.

--1B Gaby Sanchez, who was given a chance to earn the first base job this spring, was optioned to Class AAA New Orleans on March 31. He hit .194 with no RBIs in 36 at-bats in the Grapefruit League.

--RHP Burke Badenhop, who battled shoulder injuries in 2008, was optioned to Class AAA New Orleans. He recorded a 4.09 ERA this spring.

--C Ronny Paulino was traded twice on March 27, ending up with the Marlins. He was first dealt by Philadelphia to San Francisco in exchange for LHP Jack Taschner. The Giants then sent him to Florida for minor league RHP Hector Correa.

Hours after acquiring Paulino, the Marlins optioned catchers Mike Rabelo and Brett Hayes to Class AAA New Orleans. That leaves Paulino as the backup to John Baker.

Paulino, acquired by Philadelphia in a Dec. 10 trade with Pittsburgh, did little this spring to impress Phillies manager Charlie Manuel or wrestle the backup job from Chris Coste. Paulino, 27, was batting .194 (6-for-31) in Grapefruit League action.

Correa, 21, missed most of last season due to arm trouble. He has never pitched above Class A.

--RHP Ricky Nolasco was selected the Opening Day starter. "He deserves it, with the year he had last year," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Nolasco led the staff with 15 wins and 212 1/3 innings in 2008.

--RHP Matt Lindstrom threw off a mound March 27 for the first time since March 15 when he left a World Baseball Classic game with a sore right rotator cuff. Lindstrom hopes to pitch in minor league games during the final week of spring training, but he may miss the first week of the season.

--Now that the team finally got approval to build a retractable-roof ballpark, players hope it will lead to multiyear contracts. "The stadium is the first step in making moves toward keeping guys around. All of the players are hoping that's a sign of what's to come," CF Cameron Maybin said.

That won't necessarily happen, team president David Samson said. He also said the team does not plan to boost payroll until after the ballpark opens in 2012.

--Rookie 1B Gaby Sanchez played a few innings March 26 and went hitless in one at-bat in his first Grapefruit League action in a week. Although he was hitting .219 through March 27, he insisted the bone bruise on his left knee won't prohibit him from making a final push to win the first base job.

--RHP Scott Proctor said he will open the season on the disabled list because of lingering soreness in his right elbow. Signed to be the team's setup man, Proctor hopes to rejoin the team by May 1.

--The Marlins traded RHP Eulogio De La Cruz to the Padres for a player to be named or cash. De La Cruz, 25, went 0-0 with an 18.00 ERA in six appearances for Florida last year after being acquired from Detroit.

--LHP Taylor Tankersley was optioned to Class AAA New Orleans, the latest blow in a career that stalled after showing promise in 2006 and 2007. Tankersley, a former first-round pick who struggled last year with an 8.15 ERA, posted a 20.52 ERA in 6 2/3 innings this spring.

--LHP Andrew Miller has been working all winter on a new delivery, but he is making bigger strides this spring by throwing his changeup. Miller said he has thrown more changeups this spring than he did all of last season.

--RHP Kiko Calero, a non-roster invitee to the Marlins' camp, was making a strong push for an Opening Day roster spot. He had allowed one hit and no runs in seven innings this spring.

BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Walks allowed by RHP Ricky Nolasco in his first 18 innings this spring.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "People will look forward to coming down here not just for South Beach. They can come down here even if it rains." -- RHP Josh Johnson, after the team won approval for a new ballpark with a retractable roof, set to open in downtown Miami in 2012.