Already, there is some activity.

According to a league source, the Marlins are close to trading first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Royals for right-handed reliever Leo Nunez.

The source said on Wednesday night that players have been agreed upon, and the deal could be consummated in the next few days.

Jacobs, who turns 28 on Thursday, had career highs of 32 home runs and 93 RBIs for Florida this season. The left-handed-hitting first baseman, who batted .247 in 141 games, spent three years with the Marlins. He is eligible for arbitration for the first time this season, and his salary is expected to rise to roughly $3.5 million in 2009.

The Royals and Marlins have been in ongoing discussions for a while.

The Marlins are looking for bullpen help, and Nunez is a 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic who appeared in 45 games during the '08 season. Nunez posted a 4-1 record with a 2.98 ERA while logging 48 1/3 innings.

Nunez has a chance to compete for a late-inning setup role, and perhaps down the line he could be a closer candidate.