It seems that Cody Ross and Brett Carroll may start the season on the DL.
Clark Spencer has the details.
Cody Ross will rest his strained right calf once again today, leaving his status for Opening Day in doubt. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Ross could play in a minor league game on Thursday and remains optimistic that the right fielder will be good to go on Monday when the Marlins open the regular season in New York.
But the Marlins are also looking at contingency plans -- what Gonzalez calls "Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and Plan D." With Brett Carroll (strained oblique) headed to the disabled list, the Marlins have few options if Ross also goes on the DL, retroactive to March 26. If that happens, the earliest Ross would be available is April 10, meaning he would only miss the first four games of the season. The Marlins could try to get by with Emilio Bonifacio in right. They could bring up Scott Cousins or Jai Miller, who are already on the 40-man roster. They could add Bryan Petersen to the 40-man and put him in right.
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The Marlins are already faced with the difficult task of finding room on their 40-man roster for pitchers Jose Veras and Clay Hensley, and very possibly Brian Barden and Mike Lamb.
If the Marlins think Cody isn't progressing with his injury quickly enough and he starts the season on the DL, look for the team to call up either Cousins or Miller. I really don't think there is any way they will let Bonifacio man RF for four games, or at least I hope not. Yes, I know, that Bonifacio played right field in the Caribbean League, but so what. He is not a Major League outfielder, or at least not that I have seen. One could argue he decent enough in the field, that's fine. But his bat will never produce to the level of an average outfielder.
My guess is the Marlins will call up Cousins, if need be. While I don't have any solid reason for him getting the call over Miller, he is a more flashy prospect. And he has played right field in more games than Miller. Albeit, in the minors. Also I don't think the club is worried about starting the clock on Cousins since he probably doesn't figure into the future plans of the Marlins. Of course, that could change.
The 40-man roster slots are a real problem and I don't see the Marlins adding someone to it for just a few games. And anyways, Cousins or Miller will be fun to watch.