The Marlins have agreed to one year deals with Jorge Cantu and Leo Nunez. Cantu will earn $6MM this coming season while Nunez will earn $2MM. Cody Ross, on the other hand, appears to be headed to arbitration as the sides were unable to come to terms.

Anibal Sanchez has agreed to a 1-year $1.25MM deal with a $100K bonus based on games started. Renyel Pinto also agreed to a 1-year deal with terms TBA.

The Marlins have agreed to a 1-year $7.8MM deal with Dan Uggla, avoiding what could have been an ugly arbitration hearing (aren’t they all?). Despite the edict to spend more money, the Fish are apparently still shopping Uggla around. But, at this point, it’s very likely that Uggla will be the opening day second baseman.

The Marlins and Josh Johnson have agreed to a 4-year $39MM deal which buys out his first two years of free agency. The deal matches JJ’s original demand of a Greinke-like deal (4 years at $38MM) which suggests the Marlins relented after the recent pressure from MLB and MLBPA.

From ESPN:

“I’m excited,” Johnson said. “It sets up me and my family for life. One of the best parts is knowing where I’m going to be the next four years. I won’t have to hear about any trade rumors or anything like that. I’m happy to be in South Florida.”

The contract buys out the final two years of salary arbitration eligibility and the first two years of free agency for Johnson, who has a 34-16 record and a 3.40 ERA in parts of five seasons with the Marlins.

With Hanley Ramirez anchoring the offense, Josh Johnson now becomes the long-term ace of the pitching staff as the Fish make another run to the playoffs and as they look towards opening the new ballpark in 2012.

Update: A few more details. JJ will earn a mere $3.75 million in 2010, $7.75 million in 2011 and $13.75 million in 2012 and 2013. Incentives include $50K for making the All-Star team, $500K for wining the Cy Young and $1MM for World Series MVP.

Third baseman Jorge Jimenez became the player to be named later in the Matt Lindstrom trade when Houston picked him on behalf of the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft. Originally from Puerto Rico, Jimenez hit .298 with 13 home runs and 87 RBIs for the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox). The Marlins will likely give him a shot at winning the starting 3B job.

On the other end of the Draft, the Marlins, as expected, lost John Raynor when the Pirates took him with the second pick. Raynor performed well in the minors but was left exposed because the Marlins decided to protect pitchers.

Dethroned closer Matt Lindstrom is heading to the Houston Astros (literally, he is on his way to Houston for a physical). Will update once we hear who the Marlins got in return.

Update: Peter Gammons is reporting that the Marlins received two minor leaguers and a player to be named later.

Update 2: Minor leaguers coming back to the Marlins are RHP Robert Bono and SS Luis Bryan.

Ross Gload is heading to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Marlins had hoped to bring back Gload but the defending NL champs capitalized on the opportunity and signed him to a two year deal. Big loss for the Fish as he was a reliable pinch hitter and a good defensive first baseman.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick is reporting that negotiations between the Marlins and Josh Johnson have reached an impasse.

Agent Matt Sosnick told ESPN.com that negotiations between the Marlins and Johnson have reached an “impasse,” and Johnson expects to play under a one-year deal in 2010. Johnson will be eligible for free agency after the 2011 season, and a failure to reach agreement on a multiyear contract would probably force the Marlins to explore a trade before then.

“Based on our conversations, there’s no chance of doing a long-term deal with the Marlins,” Sosnick said. “We made it clear that it was going to be this year or it wasn’t going to happen. It was now or never. And the Marlins agreed.”

Apparently JJ wanted a 4-year deal but the Marlins were only willing to go up to 3 years meaning they would only buy out one of his free agency years. Let’s hope this is just early posturing by both sides.

MLBTradeRumors is reporting that the Marlins are a surprise entrant in the chase for the young Cuban left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman.

MLBTR has learned of a surprising suitor for free agent lefty Aroldis Chapman: the Marlins. They intend to submit an offer and hope to meet Chapman this month. Offers began rolling in for Chapman last week.

Chapman is only 21 and is looking for a major upfront signing bonus which is not something the Marlins like to do. That being said, he is as good as signing the first pick in the draft and could be a great long-term investment. Chapman could also serve as a marketing tool to drive more Cuban-Americans to Marlins game, just a few seasons before the Fish move to Little Havana. My guess, the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers overpay despite a strong push by the Marlins.

Two veteran players are leaving the Fish. Earlier today, the Marlins declined Ross Gload’s $2.6 million option and he is now a free agent. Also filing for free agency was reliever Brendan Donnelly.