Ozzie Guillen’s first season in Miami began with high-priced free agent additions, new uniforms, an eye-catching stadium and even a reality show. There was considerable optimism that this would be the Marlins' year. But after a 93-loss season that featured a controversy or two along the way, the outspoken manager has lost his job. The Marlins fired Guillen today, nearly three weeks after he managed his final regular season game with the team.
Guillen had three years and $7.5MM remaining on his contract with Miami. The Marlins, who acquired Guillen from the White Sox a year ago, finished the 2012 season 69-93, last in the NL East. They'll now seek a replacement for Guillen and complete the transition they've been mulling for weeks. Mike Lowell's name has come up in connection with the Marlins, but he won't be considered, the Miami Herald reported early in October.
Guillen made controversial comments about Fidel Castro early in April, as his team played to an 8-14 record. Later in the season Guillen and Heath Bell publicly debated the manager’s decision to remove Bell from the closer’s role. Bell has since been traded, but evidently the deal didn’t affect Guillen’s job security.
Guillen, a 16-year MLB veteran who made three All-Star teams as a player, managed the White Sox for eight seasons before joining the Marlins. He led the White Sox to a World Series title in 2005 and compiled a total record of 678-617 in Chicago.
Bench coach Joey Cora has also been dismissed, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).
WHOA. Worst. FRONT. OFFICE.EVER
Ozzie had to go. I’m a Marlins fan who watched EVERY game this season, don’t ask me how, and his management of games was terrible. They always say it’s just “Ozzie being Ozzie”, but it’s just a crappy excuse for his inability to manage this team.
Surely working with such stars like Brian Peterson, Donovan Solano, Greg Dobbs, Austin Kearns, Gil Velazquez and the list goes on would obviously mean you could win the NL East. Yup it was definitely his managing that had a bunch of big contracts that underperform and a bunch of guys that are no where close to being major leaguers.
Stanton, Ramirez, Reyes, Buehrle, and Bell among others.
Bell?
I believe he might have rebounded a little if he was working under a different coach.
Every game? May I suggest therapy?
162 x 9 innings of looking at those clown unis! sympathy
That may be so, but firing Ozzie doesn’t hurt their cause of getting better
Yes. But trading for and hiring him in the first place was a bigger mistake than firing him.
That sums up Jeffrey Loria.
blue jays!!!!! hahahah he would be a riot with the kids
especially with the Cuban shortstops. wonder what Ozzie would concoct for Escobar’s eyeshades?!
I thought they’d try to repair the relationship with him and the team after the trade of Bell.
Guillen had three years and $7.5MM remaining on his contract with Miami. Bench coach Joey Cora has also been dismissed.
I guess this is going to cost Loria a few paintings?
I had problems understanding why they even hired him in the first place. Worse, they traded players for him!
This is hilarious, Ozzie is finally done
Bobby Valentine… Come on down!
That explains the “Gone Fishin'” sign outside of his house.
The Marlins overbid.
Don’t forget the “no cycling” clause in his contract…
I don’t know how it happened, but this actually surprised me a little with Bell being moved and a continued shake-up on the horizon. I have always been a supporter of the Marlins with two “creative” WS wins in a bad market. At this point, you have to consider this franchise a blight upon the league. I’m ready for some contraction talks.
Once he made his statement about Castro, his days were numbered.
It wasn’t the Castro comments, even though they certainly did put him on thin ice. It’s fine and dandy to praise Castro, but it’s not ok for Ozzie to criticize the petulant manchild of an owner (which was really what numbered his days. Just ask Joe Girardi.)
It’s fine and dandy to praise Castro, but it’s not ok for Ozzie to criticize the petulant manchild of an owner…
Classic characterization of Loria (and true enough about the Castro incident).
Yea they’ll probably contract them, you know since they just helped them build that stadium. I don’t blame the ownership for shipping out hanley, guillen AND bell, you don’t need those types of people around. But they need to get someone in charge over there who has a plan for long term success and follow it through.
Worst case scenario for Loria (which also happens to be the best case scenario for the team) is that Loria gets ousted McCourt-style by the MLB. (Depending on how the SEC investigation goes, this could actually become a reality.) Then someone who’s actually committed to turning the Marlins into a winning team can buy the team.
Thought there was a chance he’d be staying since they got rid of Heath Bell so quickly… guess not. I wish they’d just let Stanton go and play for a decent team rather than having to watch everyone around him disappear.
I’m not a fan of the way the Marlins do business, but I can’t really call trading Bell and firing Guillen bad for the team.
after you JUST traded for him and gave him a 4 year deal.
The front office just lacks all aspects of any sort of planning or long term vision
Well, let’s see, they’re still paying Bell to play against them. Not that Bell is what he was when he called Petco home, but he’s not serving up taters either. Call me old school if I actually want to see and benefit from what I’m paying for.
wow, just wow…
I don’t think he’s a good coach but still. They backed him all of last season and gave him a four year deal and jump ship after one year. So much for bringing excitement back to the Marlins. This team is a joke. They should just put Reyes on the market since they probably won’t win the next few years anyways.
Too proud for that to happen. Someone will have to open up the coffers to get to Johnson, Stanton or Reyes. They’re disillusioned at thinking they actually have a chance at winning. I blame the centerfield monstrosity.
LOL Since when did the Marlins not have fire sales in the past when things went south?
Wow, Miami really is the worst
Thanks for 05 Ozzie. But honestly you have lost it. And probably won’t find an MLB job. See ya
Woa that escalated quickly….. Ron Burgundy Face
I hope the Jays get him, he makes a hell of a press conference.
Bad hire to begin with.
He’s probably done, but should MLB ever expand internationally and give Havana a franchise….
marlins should try to hire a-rod to manage there club
Who else will they get rid of they truly are the most interesting team in the offseason
Shine on, you crazy diamond. I’m looking forward to seeing where the Ozzie Show goes next.
Saturday pre/post-analysis on FOX. Should be entertaining.
How does Larry Bienfest have a job while I am typing this. That is what I’d like to know.
It most certainly involves acts unfit for discussion on this website.
7.5 to sit at home and read books about fidel castro
say what you want about ozzie, but he’s going to be at home sipping a mojito with his feet up
Maybe when Jeffrey Loria decides he wants to get to the root of the problem, he’ll fire himself.
Does this mean Giancarlo will go back to using “Mike” as his first name?
LOL!!! Awesome Matt. You made my day.
I hope Ozzie sends loria a personal handwritten letter every time he gets a check in the mail saying “Thank you for paying me x amount, will look forward to seeing it again in 2 weeks.” Just to rub it in.
I was expecting it before the end of season. Would be awesome for Bell if Ozzie joins DBacks’ coaching staff in some capacity.
They should make Milton Bradley their next manager.
Al Leiter! lols
wrong move by the marlins, but I think Ozzie is done…
Never been a big fan of the Oz. Surprised it took three weeks to decide on this move.
You don’t say?
It would be mad jokes if he came to the Jays… heck I’d go to every Jays game if he were manager!
There’s nothing like the thrill of watching the manager wander out to the mound a few times a game for a pitching change.
I’m on the edge of my seat every time.
Wonder if Ozzie Guillen has a spot in the baseball world now?
Three words….Sandy. Alomar. Junior.
Marty Crouch…Junior
The whole Marlin story is really fascinating, and you wonder how much of a role Bud Selig had in it. Remember Bud engineered the Loria move to Miami after his stint owning Les Expos, and probably had a hand in “convincing” local officials to pony up for a free taxpayer stadium. All that extra other people’s cash brought them the resources to spend big and silly, and bring in the marquee made for tv manager. Maybe Bud told Loria is was time to let Ozzie go? Just random speculation, I realize
Congratulations Loria… you’ve officially proven Ozzie right.
I’ve been a fan of this team for damn near two decades and I will continue to support this team, but until those two yo-yos Beinfest and Hill are gone, I am officially done trying to defend the boneheaded moves this ownership makes.
The writing was pretty much on the wall once Ozzie commented on our revolving door of managers and “badmouthed” Loria. If Loria thought he was being badmouthed before, I have a feeling he’s seen nothing yet now that Ozzie is no longer under his control.
You, my friend, just put your finger on the problem. Until Loria and Co. are gone, this team in all reality will not compete
I didn’t know the Marlins had fans.
I read elsewhere they will be willing to consider ex-players without management or coaching experience. Reaching back for respected ex-Marlins known for good attitude and smarts… Jeff Conine, maybe?
Josh Beckett?
as a Twins fan, i pray its not Mike Redmond. I want him for 2014 after Gardenhire gets canned
Fans don’t go to see the manager, Ozzie was the opposite of what they needed, they just don’t like or hire good managers and when they do, they fire them
Ozzie would make for one hell of a color analyst.
Sometimes I think that Loria and staff just throw darts at a dartboard to see what they should do. “Ok, so if it’s a 7 we fire Ozzie, if it’s a 15 we keep him”
They just have NO IDEA what they are doing
I’d like to be in Ozzie Guillen’s position right about now—get paid $7.5 million to do nothing for the next 3 years.
This firing was long overdue. Should have been made back in April.
Shucks, too late for him to be the Red Sox manager. That would have been soooo much fun to watch…
Thank the lord.
Heard Larry Bowa is going to be interviewed. Ozzie didn’t know how to close his mouth that Castro lover.