As we expected, Josh Johnson will undergo reconstructive surgery (AKA Tommy John) and will be out at least 12 months. The Marlins will probably play it safe and hold him back until the 2009 season. If all goes well, both JJ and Anibal Sanchez will be healthy by then (as for us fans, we’ll have to try to stay sane for another year).

A “fun” tidbit is that Jeffrey Loria has publicly blamed Joe Girardi for causing this injury.

“He wasn’t right the day he was put back in the ballgame after a rain delay. And enough said about that,” said Loria, who fired Girardi after the season.

The Marlins added some organizational depth at the catcher position by signing Jason Phillips and assigning him to AAA Albuquerque. You may remember the 7-year veteran from his days with the New York Mets. This past season he has been with the Toronto Blue Jays where he hit .208 with 1 home run and 12 RBI.

The Marlins lack real depth or talent at the catcher position both in the majors and in the minors. I am thinking (and hoping) that this means that Miguel Olivo won’t be with the Marlins next year. I have said before that his offense is simply not good enough to make up for his defense and his handling of the pitchers.