Ozzie Out As White Sox Manager
UPDATED 09/27/11 7:51 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) The White Sox have agreed to let manager Ozzie Guillen out of the final year of his contract after managing the club for eight season. Guillen is now free to pursue other opportunities.
As WBBM Newsradio's Josh Liss reports, Guillen wants a more money than the White Sox are willing to offer, so he has been granted his release from the team with one year and $2 million left on his deal.
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"I want more money. I don't want to be here for a year. No, I want more money," Guillen said at a news conference. "I'm going to die with the White Sox poor? Hell no. Listen, this is my job. This is the only thing I can do. I've got to make money out of it somewhere."
Adam Hoge, of 670 The Score, reports there is a short list of candidates to succeed Guillen.
Guillen said he knew his time was up, but he said he hoped the city would not forget him.
"I know they're not going to forget me. Even if they want to, they can't. They'll walk through the ballpark. My picture will to be up there. I hope they don't take it down," he said.
The team released an official statement following Monday's game from Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf:
"I personally appreciate everything Ozzie has done for this organization, our fans and the city of Chicago.," Reinsdorf said. "We shared the greatest moments together and wish him nothing but future success in baseball and in life."
Guillen could be on his way to the Florida Marlins. He as come under fire as the White Sox failed to live up to high expectations this season. His relationship with general manager Kenny Williams has also hurt the situation and it became obvious the two could no longer work together.
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Ozzie Through The Years: Managing World Series And Before
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Ozzie Through The Years: Playing Days
INTERVIEWS ON OZZIE'S DEPARTURE
Guillen had a meeting with Reinsdorf before the White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Tuesday night, and said the two did not come to a resolution.
"I'm not going to say I left empty-handed, because I left there with my ideas, with what I want," Guillen said after his meeting with Reinsdorf. "I left there (knowing) what I should do. Now I have a couple of days, we have two more days to decide here what's going on. But nothing here was (resolved.)
"I think, believe me, it's not easy for me and (Reinsdorf) to have that type of conversation. It's very painful, but this is a business. I want to know where I stand. … It's hard for me to put this man in that situation. It's very hard, because I know he doesn't deserve that."
Coincidentally, Marlins current manager Jack McKeon officially announced Monday that he would not be returning to the team for the 2012 season.
When confronted with rumors that the Marlins may want him, Guillen said: "You've never heard me talk about that. I've never said the words 'Marlins' out of my mouth. That's their problem. If they want me, they should. I'm bad, I'm good at what I do. Everybody can want me, but its one thing if they can get me."
