page_title: History of the Miami Marlins
section_title: 2008: Back to .500 baseball
hierarchical_section_title: History of the Miami Marlins / Franchise history / 2006–2011: Smaller payrolls, managerial changes, and new stars emerge / 2008: Back to .500 baseball
caption_attribution_description: Please attribute photo with author's name if used somewhere other than Wikipedia. 18:24, 4 August 2008 . . Chrisjnelson . . 1,012×730 (758 KB)
context_page_description: The Miami Marlins are a Major League Baseball team that currently plays in the city of Miami. Founded in 1991 as the Florida Marlins, the Marlins began play in 1993 in the suburb of Miami Gardens, and moved to the city in 2012, becoming the Miami Marlins at that time.
context_section_description: The Marlins began 2008 on a positive note. Analysts expected a lackluster performance on the field, citing the low payroll and loss of Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera during the offseason. However, the Marlins got off to one of the best starts in team history. At one point the Marlins were 30–20, the first time since September 14, 2005 the team had been 10 games over .500. They jumped atop of the National League East in April and May, the first time since 2002 that they held the lead that late in the season. The good start was attributed to powerful offensive production from their core of Mike Jacobs, Hanley Ramírez, Dan Uggla, Josh Willingham, and Jorge Cantú and quality pitching by southpaw Scott Olsen and right-hander Ricky Nolasco. The Marlins' hot start made them a rare buyer at the July trade deadline, where they were involved in talks on a three-way deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox which could have brought Manny Ramírez to South Florida. The Marlins backed out at the last second when trade talks turned to their coveted power-hitting prospect, Giancarlo Stanton. Instead, Manny Ramírez ended up with the Dodgers and the Marlins wound up trading for Arthur Rhodes.
  The team also received encouraging news when injured pitcher Josh Johnson made a fast recovery from Tommy John surgery and Aníbal Sánchez came back from a torn labrum in the shoulder, both leaping into the rotation right away along with newly called up prized prospect Chris Volstad. In addition, the Marlins sent two players, Hanley Ramírez, who started the game at shortstop, and reserve Dan Uggla to the last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. The Marlins signed Hanley Ramírez to a 6-year, $70 million deal, making him the richest Marlin in history.
  The team struggled in the month of August, when they went 11–16 due to lack of the offense they had in the early part of the season. In September, the Marlins rallied with a nine-game winning streak, tying the franchise record, thanks in part to prized prospect, Cameron Maybin. However they lost four straight afterwards and were eliminated from playoff contention, although but they did manage to eliminate the New York Mets for the second consecutive season on the final day, winning the final game at Shea Stadium, 4–2.
  The team finished with a franchise record for most home runs in a season at 208. Mike Jacobs, Dan Uggla, Hanley Ramírez and Jorge Cantú made MLB history by becoming the first foursome of infielders to hit at least 25 homers in a season. Just a day after the World Series concluded, the Marlins began wheeling and dealing. They traded first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Royals for reliever Leo Núñez, who the Marlins hoped could become a setup-man in late innings. A few weeks later, the Marlins traded power hitting outfielder Josh Willingham and southpaw Scott Olsen to the Nationals for utility player Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers. Soon after the Marlins traded closer Kevin Gregg to the Cubs for relief prospect José Ceda.
caption: Ramírez (left) leading off first against the Atlanta Braves in 2008.
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