Ozzie Guillen Introduced By Marlins, Praised For 'Great Passion'

The Florida Marlins introduced Ozzie Guillen as their new manager during a press conference at Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

"This is a man with great passion and energy and this is what this club needs," Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. "This is what it needs and I couldn't be happier.

"We needed more energy here and going into our new ballpark...everything is about timing, and it just happened to all work."

The 47-year-old Guillen was 678-617 during his eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox, guiding the club to a World Series win in 2005, his second season as a Major League manager. Guillen was released from his contract with the White Sox two days ago, and the Marlins shipped a pair of prospects to Chicago in order to hire Guillen, who has signed a four-year contract with the club.

Guillen replaces 80-year-old Jack McKeon, who was hired after Edwin Rodriguez resigned in June during a lengthy losing streak in June. Guillen was McKeon's third-base coach when the Marlins won the World Series in 2003.

"I don't need veterans, I need good players," said Guillen. "I need players who care, to be in the same room rooting for each other. I don't need veteran players, I need guys who go out there and play the game right. I'm willing to manage whatever club they put out there because this is my new job and I'm ready.

"I have a lot confidence, which is why I'm called cocky. Just give me the ballclub and let's go for it."

For more on the Marlins, visit Fish Stripes.

Ozzie Guillen To Be Announced As Marlins Manager On Wednesday

Ozzie Guillen will officially complete his transition to the Florida Marlins on Wednesday afternoon. The former manager of the Chicago White Sox will be announced as the next Marlins manager at a press conference scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Marlins announced the press conference early Wednesday morning, though didn't initially release the reason for the media gathering. Miami Herald beat writer Clark Spencer has confirmed, however, that it would be to announce Guillen as the team's next manager.

The move has been expected ever since Guillen told his players he was leaving on Monday night. In return for getting a new manager with a propensity to make press conferences interesting, the Marlins have given to the White Sox infielder Osvaldo Martinez and a minor league pitcher named Jhan Marinez.

Guillen is replacing the soon to be retired Jack McKeon as the Marlins' manager. The White Sox will apparently look to fill Guillen's position from outside the organization as they have already dismissed bench coach Joey Cora, the presumed heir to the Guillen throne.

Chicago White Sox Effectively Dismiss Joey Cora

Monday evening, word got out in a damn hurry that Ozzie Guillen was managing his final game with the Chicago White Sox, and that he'd be leaving to assume the same job with the Florida/Miami Marlins. Such a move was long suspected, but the timing left the White Sox in need of an interim skipper for the final two games. The obvious choice: bench coach Joey Cora, right?

Wrong. Joe Cowley:

The strange end to the White Sox’ 2011 season took another odd twist this morning when general manager Ken Williams essentially fired interim manager Joey Cora and replaced him with pitching coach Don Cooper.

Cora was told by text message to just go ahead and take the days off, as Cooper will pretty much do everything. The expectation is that Cora will join Guillen with the Marlins, and the White Sox presumably didn't see the point in handing the temporary reins over to a guy with one foot out the door.

Guillen will be officially introduced as a Marlin on Wednesday. As compensation, the White Sox are expected to receive two players: Ozzie Martinez, and Jhan Marinez. Not only do the White Sox get an Ozzie for an Ozzie - they get a Martinez and a Marinez, the latter of which I didn't even know was a last name. Martinez is a glove-first shortstop, while Marinez is a 23-year-old righty reliever big on strikeouts and walks.

Could Carlos Zambrano Follow Ozzie Guillen To South Beach?

Carlos Zambrano's antics got him suspended and sent home by the Cubs in August. He and Ozzie Guillen are close friends. Could Ozzie's new managing position mean a new team for Big Z?

White Sox To Acquire Osvaldo Martinez, Minor League Pitcher For Ozzie Guillen

On Monday night, the Chicago White Sox released Ozzie Guillen from his 2012 contract to manage the team, with this caveat from their press release:

The White Sox retain rights to compensation should Guillen accept a managerial position with another major league team in 2012.

This morning, via tweet from MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez, we learn what that compensation will be:

A source told MLB.com that the compensation is expected to be infielder Osvaldo Martinez and a Minor Leaguer pitcher for Ozzie Guillen.

Martinez, 23 years old and a native of Puerto Rico, was the Marlins’ 11th-round selection in the 2006 draft. Clearly a defensive specialist, he has hit just .269/.331/.352 in 2099 minor league plate appearances, and .258/.300/.348 in 71 major league PA in 2010 and 2011.

Guillen is expected to take bench coach Joey Cora with him to Miami, and the White Sox are expected to replace the rest of the coaching staff, except pitching coach Don Cooper, who still has a contract with the team.

Ozzie Guillen Officially Released From White Sox Contract

Ozzie Guillen is leaving the Chicago White Sox for the Florida/Miami Marlins, possibly in exchange for a minor leaguer, and while we're waiting for the second part to become official, we're no longer waiting on the first part. Jon Morosi:

White Sox release Ozzie Guillen from his contract, per team statement.

This doesn't mean that Guillen's contract - which runs through 2012 - has been voided. It just means that, effective immediately, Guillen is no longer the White Sox's manager. The White Sox retain the rights to compensation should Guillen accept another managerial job, which, of course, he's going to, with the Marlins.

It's expected that Guillen will sign a three-year contract with the Marlins, and that he'll bring along his bench coach, Joey Cora. As compensation, the White Sox will presumably receive either a decent prospect or some amount of cash. They won't get anything great, but they won't get nothing.

As for Chicago's own managerial search now, early word has it that chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is interested in Tony La Russa and Buddy Bell. For whatever it's worth, Bell has a lifetime record of 519-724 as a manager. That is very bad.

Ozzie Guillen Tells White Sox Players He Is Leaving

Earlier Monday night, reports emerged that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is leaving for the Florida Marlins. Courtesy of Bruce Levine, we get some confirmation:

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen gathered his players before Monday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays and told them that it would be his final one, according to sources close to the situation.

Guillen and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf held a meeting Monday regarding Guillen's future. Guillen - entering the final year of his contract - has been seeking an extension, without which he said he would resign. As it turns out, neither will take place, as the White Sox and Marlins are closing a deal to send Guillen to Miami.

What kind of deal? First, Jon Morosi:

Source: White Sox would receive at least one player in return for Ozzie in proposed deal with Marlins.

And Bob Nightengale:

The White Sox are hoping to get a decent prospect, but not anyone on Marlins' 40-man roster for Guillen in latest round of talks.

It was fun to imagine that the Marlins might ship away Logan Morrison, but that would also be insane of them, since Morrison is a good player and Guillen is a manager of unknown quality. Morrison will remain where he is, as will the rest of the major Marlins. The White Sox will presumably end up with someone out of the minors.

Assuming the deal is completed, it will be the first manager/player trade since 2002, when the then-Devil Rays sent Randy Winn to the Mariners for Lou Piniella and a minor leaguer (Antonio Perez).

Ozzie Guillen Reportedly Leaving White Sox, Joining Marlins

According to reports, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is leaving the team, and will manage the Florida Marlins in 2012.