There will be no long-term contract for Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson. Not this year. And probably not ever.

So said the All-Star pitcher's agent Friday.

``The Marlins sort of knew it was now or never,'' said Matt Sosnick after talks broke down over the length of the contract. Johnson wanted a four-year deal. Sosnick said the Marlins were only willing to offer three.

Without a multiyear contract in place, the Marlins might be forced to trade Johnson after the 2010 season -- if not before -- in order to recoup value for him.

``I don't know if things are totally done, hopefully not. But it is one of those business things in baseball that you kinda don't want to have to go through,'' he said.

Johnson has two salary arbitration years remaining before he becomes eligible for free agency, and Sosnick said he was expecting the Marlins to offer a contract similar to one the Kansas City Royals give Zack Greinke -- their staff ace -- before the '09 season: $38 million over four years.

But Sosnick said that Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations, made it clear they were not prepared to offer Johnson more than three years on any deal.

Asked if there was any chance that negotiations could be revived, Sosnick replied: ``I think Larry is an honest guy. He made it clear to me that it [a 3-year deal] is not happening. Given that, I believe him.''

When asked to comment, Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello replied: ``We refuse to negotiate through the press.''

The Marlins have never offered a multiyear deal to a pitcher. But, with Johnson, they said they were prepared to make an exception. Johnson has emerged as one of the top starters in the majors. He has gone 34-16 as a Marlin and, since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2007, has a record of 22-6 with an ERA of 3.34.

``If they're not willing to give four years to Josh Johnson, I don't know what pitchers they're going to sign,'' Sosnick said.

Sosnick said Johnson was prepared to pitch for the Marlins at what he termed a discount, but only if the contract was for four years or longer. Johnson is expected to make about $4 million next season through the arbitration process.

Furthermore, Sosnick said, ``the best deal they were going to get was going to be this week.'' Sosnick said the two sides began negotiating Tuesday.

Sosnick said Johnson was ``shocked that they wouldn't offer the same amount of years that Greinke got. Josh wanted to make a deal and stay with the Marlins. He made that very clear.''

Now, it's possible 2010 could be Johnson's last with the club.

``We feel like Josh is going to get $18 million to $20 million a year in free agency, and we were willing to give a big discount,'' Sosnick said. ``In order to give up his free agent years, all we wanted to do was commit to four years. Kansas City gave Greinke four years in a smaller market, and coming off a worse year than Johnson.

``It their business. I'm not judging their decision-making, because the Marlins seem to make a lot of very good decisions when it comes to personnel.''

SPRING SCHEDULE

The Marlins will see plenty of the Mets, Cardinals and Nationals during their 2010 spring training schedule.

Florida is scheduled to play 33 games before Opening Day, April 5, against the host Mets.

The Marlins play the Mets seven times during the spring.

The Marlins also see St. Louis and Washington six times each. Other highlights of the spring schedule feature home and away games with the Braves and Red Sox.

The Marlins finish the spring with games at Double A Jacksonville and Single A Greensboro (N.C.) -- two of their minor-league affiliates.

-- PETE PELEGRIN

SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

March 3: University of Miami, (Jupiter) 3:05 p.m.; March 4: NATIONALS; March 5: at Mets (Port St. Lucie); March 6: CARDINALS; March 7: at Cardinals (Jupiter); March 8: METS (SS); March 8: at Nationals (SS), Viera; March 9: RED SOX; March 10: at Astros (Kissimmee); March 11: CARDINALS; March 12: at Orioles (Sarasota); March 13: at Rays (Port Charlotte); March 14: METS; March 15: TWINS; March 16: at Braves (SS), Orlando; March 16: at Nationals (SS), Viera; March 17: BRAVES; March 18: METS, 7:05; March 19: at Cardinals (Jupiter); March 20: at Nationals (Viera); March 21: NATIONALS; March 22: OFF DAY; March 23: ORIOLES; March 24: at Twins (Fort Myers); March 25: at Red Sox (Ft. Myers); March 26: METS; March 27: CARDINALS; March 28: ASTROS; March 29: at Mets (Port St. Lucie); March 30: NATIONALS; March 31: at Mets (Port St. Lucie); April 1: CARDINALS, 12:05 p.m.; April 2: at Jacksonville Suns (AA), Jacksonville, 7:05 p.m.; April 3: at Greensboro Grasshoppers (A), Greensboro, NC, 3:05 p.m.