Photo: Sox manager Ozzie Guillen makes a face in the dugout just before the start of Monday's game. The entertaining Ozzie Guillen managerial era that started with a World Series in his second season ended with a third consecutive non-playoff season and a desire to gain more security and wealth.
The White Sox were expected to announce the trading of the colorful but controversial Guillen, 47, to Florida in a deal that could eventually land him a four-year contract worth nearly $16 million, according to two team sources.
The announcement that Guillen was done came after a 4-3 win over Toronto.
The Sox released the following statement after the game.
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to Ozzie Guillen's request to be released from his contract, allowing the manager to pursue other opportunities.
"We certainly cannot thank Ozzie enough for all he has done during his eight seasons as manager of the Chicago White Sox, highlighted by an unforgettable 2005 World Series championship," said Jerry Reinsdorf, White Sox chairman. "I personally appreciate everything he has done for this organization, our fans and the city of Chicago. We shared the greatest moments together and wish him nothing but future success in baseball and in life."
Guillen, who led the White Sox to a 78-82 mark in 2011 and a 678-617 record during his eight seasons (2004-11) as manager, will not be in uniform with the White Sox for the remaining two games of the 2011 season.
The White Sox retain rights to compensation should Guillen accept a managerial position with another major league team in 2012.
Guillen met with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for 35 minutes Monday morning. His office door was closed for an extended period after the clubhouse opened and met with reporters later than usual, but he managed Monday night's game against Toronto while the Sox and Marlins were trying to agree on compensation.
"He gone," one clubhouse source speculated as he looked at his closed office door. "He's had a great run here, and he'll get the money he wants down there (in Florida)."
Guillen's imminent departure surfaced hours after Marlins manager Jack McKeon announced he was retiring.
This would mark a return to South Florida for Guillen, who was a third base coach on Florida's 2003 World Series champion team, as well as the end of an eight-year managerial era that brought the Sox the 2005 Series title – their first title in 88 years – as well as plenty of controversy that kept the Sox in the national and local spotlight.
Guillen became testy before the game when a reporter asked about the speculation regarding Florida's interest in him.
"You never hear me talk about that," Guillen said. "You never did. Did I ever say I wanted the Marlins out of my mouth? No, that's their problem. If they want me, they should. I'm good at what I do. They should. Everybody can want me, but it's one thing if they can get me. It's not easy like, 'OK, I'm going to get you, and you're going to come here.'
"No, it's a process. If the Marlins want me, good for them. I moved to Chicago, bro. I moved here, I have my house here."
It was only nine months ago that general manager Ken Williams picked up the option on Guillen's contract for 2012 after the two sides spat throughout most of 2010.
But with the Sox failing to come close to winning an American League Central title that they had invested heavily in, Guillen wanted more financial security as well as another extension.
Guillen said before Monday night's game that he laid out his hopes to Reinsdorf. Guillen wanted to stay and bought a larger home this spring in the Bucktown section, but he apparently couldn't get a lucrative extension.
Another gulf was the coaching staff that worked without a contract past 2011. Hitting coach Greg Walker and Williams were involved in an argument last month, and Guillen stood firm by his coaches.
"Let's put it this way, if I'm here, they are going to be here if my coaches want to," Guillen said before Monday's game. "If I'm here, I pick the coaching staff. That's it. If they don't want to be here, that's a different thing because I'm the one who deals with the coaches every day."
The only coach who appears safe past this season is pitching coach Don Cooper, whose association with Williams dates back to 1995 in the Sox's minor leagues.
Guillen also expressed an increasing distain for the sabermetrics staff members who made less frequent appearances during batting practice this season.
Guillen, however, came out earlier this month in support of Williams, stating he deserved to keep his position despite the acquisition of Adam Dunn that failed miserably.
Guillen also didn't put the bulk of the Sox's failures this season on Dunn or Alex Rios, whom each will earn nearly $80 million over the next three seasons.
Guillen joins former Sox boss Chuck Tanner as managers who have been traded.
Guillen's replacement could come from a list that includes former Sox players and current major league coaches Sandy Alomar Jr. and Davey Martinez and Sox farm director Buddy Bell. Tony La Russa might be under consideration if he leaves St. Louis, but La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have worked together for nearly 30 years, and Cooper is expected to retain his duties.
Ozzie Guillen put all his cards on Jerry Reinsdorf's desk Monday during a 35-minute chat that reinforced the stance of the White Sox's manager that could immediately result in his divorce after eight seasons.
Guillen told a flock of reporters that he hoped to meet again with Reinsdorf before leaving Friday for Spain, but the only issue may be how Guillen could settle the final year of his contract – perhaps by trade - that could pave the way for a more lucrative deal with the Marlins.
Guillen's office door was closed for an extended period before meeting with reporters, and only a few staff members popped in and out of his office before Guillen met with reporters later than usual.
"He gone," one source speculated as he looked at his closed door. "He's had a great run here, and he'll get the money he wants down there (in Florida)."
Another team source said the organization was preparing more in recent weeks for Guillen's departure, based on his desire to be paid more money and receive a lengthy extension.
As a twist, Jack McKeon announced earlier Monday that he was retiring. Two scouting sources reiterated that the Marlins were prepared to offer Guillen a contract of at least four years at about double his $2 million salary for 2012.
If a deal is crystallized, it would conclude one of the most colorful and controversial chapters in Sox history. Guillen directed the Sox to a 2005 World Series, but his success often was overshadowed by his candid comments.
Guillen, 47, clearly stated he didn't want to enter 2012 without an extension. He added that his coaching staff, whose contracts expire after this season would stay if he remains with the Sox.
That would be a snag, since general manager Ken Williams and hitting coach Greg Walker have been at odds over the handling of Gordon Beckham, and Guillen confirmed they had a spat late last month.
"Let's put it this way, if I'm here, they are going to be here if my coaches want to," Guillen said before Monday night's game with Toronto. "If I'm here, I pick the coaching staff. That's it. If they don't want to be here, that's a different thing because I'm the one who deals with the coaches every day."
The only exception would be pitching coach Don Cooper, who has been with Williams for an extended period but wasn't allowed permission to talk to the New York Yankees to discuss their vacancy last winter.
If Guillen is allowed to leave for Florida, the Sox could receive left-handed hitting outfielder Logan Morrison, who hit his 23rd home run Monday night.
Before the game, Guillen discussed how difficult it was for him to explain his situation to Reinsdorf, whom he has known since getting traded to the Sox from San Diego in 1985 as a 21-year-old player.
"It's hard for me to put this man in that situation," Guillen said. "Very hard because I know he doesn't deserve that. I know being manager of this ballclub this year, I have a lot of guts to go up there and tell him I how he feel because what can he say?"
The Sox's search for a replacement could include former Sox players and current major league coaches Sandy Alomar Jr. and Davey Martinez, and farm director Buddy Bell.
Essentially, Guillen told a pack of reporters he explained his wishes to Reinsdorf - that he receive an extension of more than one year at considerably more money than the $2 million he's scheduled to make next season, that his coaches would stay if he remains with the Sox and that he wouldn't return as a lame-duck manager in 2012.
He did snap at a reporter who mentioned the Marlins, who officially have an opening with Jack McKeon announcing his retirement and that the Marlins are prepared to offer Guillen a four-year deal at considerably more money than Guillen currently makes, according to two scouting sources.
"With the same contract I have for next year. I think I earned a little bit more than that," Guillen said. "Right now, I hope we meet again before I go."
Guillen was not disappointed that he didn't receive an answer from Reinsdorf.
"I can't go there and say, 'man, give me $2 million,' and he says 'here it is, kid, go to the ATM machine and get it,' " Guillen said. "That's a process. Believe me, it's not easy for me and him to have that type of conversation. It's very painful, but this is a business and I want to know what's my stance. That's the only thing I can do in life, just baseball things. I will make all my money out of baseball and ... it's hard for me to put this man in that situation.
"It's very hard because I know he don't deserve that. I know being manager of this ballclub this year, I have a lot of guts to go up there and tell him I how he feel because what can he say? 'You should be coming here with the season you've had?' But I have so much confidence in myself I decided to be there (expressing his wishes for an extension). And I expressed my feelings again to him."
As for speculation regarding the Marlins, Guillen snapped: "You never hear me talk about that. You never did. Did I ever say I wanted the Marlins out of my mouth? No, that’s their problem. If they want me, they should. I’m good at what I do. They should.
"Everybody can want me, but it’s one thing if they can get me. It’s not easy like, ‘OK I’m going to get you and you’re going to come here.’ No it’s a process. If the Marlins want me, good for them. I moved to Chicago, bro. I moved here, I have my house here."
The Marlins would need to seek permission to talk to Guillen. The Sox could either consent, deny or ask for compensation for the Marlins to talk to him. The Marlins were rejected in their request after both sides couldn't agree on compensation.
Guillen said Reinsdorf didn't ask him if he wanted to talk with other teams.
"Not yet, because he knows I will," Guillen said. "Yeah, I will. In a heartbeat. Why? Because those are opportunities. We are going to start to talk about it right now and see what happens."
But Guillen stressed that money is an issue.
"(Bleep) more years, I want more money," Guillen said. "I don’t work here for years. No, I want more money. Years, what, I’m going to die poor with the White Sox. Hell, no. Listen this is my job. It’s the only thing I can do. I have to make money out of somewhere. I’m not a doctor or a lawyer, where you’ll have a job for the rest of your life.
"Life is about money. People don’t believe that. People are happy after they make money."
Guillen said he could work with general manager Ken Williams if he gets paid what he wants.
"As long as they pay me, our relationship will be the same - very respectful, very professional," Guillen said. "And that’s it. I don’t think we do anything different maybe the last two years, we don’t do anything different. We respect each other and talk about the ballclub and do what we are supposed to do as general manager and manager, and I don’t expect anything different."
Guillen declined to say whether he would quit if the Sox didn't give him an extension with already one year left on his contract.
"I’ve got to talk to my wife, and she’s got to cut the shopping process and Ozzie (Jr.) has got to quit drinking a little bit and Oney has to go to work a little bit," Guillen quipped. "Ozney has got to go to public school and hopefully get a scholarship somewhere, a lot of (stuff). My mom’s got to cut a little bit, my dad’s got to get healthy, my sister’s got to find a rich man.
"There’s a lot behind the scenes. My captain and my boat, I’ve got to cut that thing down. There’s a lot of things I’ve got to pay. We’ll see what happens, I don’t know yet."
Guillen stressed that if he stays, so does his coaches.
"Let’s put it this way, if I’m here, they are going to be here if my coaches want to," Guillen said. If I’m here, I pick the coaching staff. That’s it. If they don’t want to be here, that’s a different thing because I’m the one who deals with the coaches every day."
