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One minor holdup: The Marlins had yet to confirm a deal. But Guillen’s website eliminated much of the drama by leaking the news he has agreed to become the Marlins’ manager.
A post Monday night quoted Guillen announcing he was Florida-bound. The blog was taken down a short time later and replaced by a post that discussed Guillen’s departure from the Chicago White Sox.
On Tuesday afternoon Guillen tweeted: “Weird to be in miami in this time but very happy ready to go”.
Guillen’s briefly posted blog item said he had hoped to spend his entire managerial career with the White Sox, where he won a World Series title in 2005.
“But there comes a point when you need to move on, and that point has come,” he was quoted as saying. “The Florida Marlins believe I am the right man for the job to bring another World Series to South Florida.”
Guillen had a year left on his contract, and White Sox general manager Ken Williams confirmed Tuesday that the club had an agreement with another team for compensation for the manager. But he did not identify the players involved and declined to say the Marlins were the other team.
“It isn’t a secret,” he said. “Out of respect for the desires for that particular organization, they did not want to be named, so I am simply honoring that request.”
Williams also said he’s offered to step aside or take another job in the organization after some of his moves failed to pan out and the team floundered.
Williams said he made the offer to owner Jerry Reinsdorf and would have understood if the White Sox wanted to put someone else in his seat.
“It has not worked out, you have to be accountable for that,” Williams said.
How did Reinsdorf respond?
“He didn’t like it very much, but I felt compelled to reiterate that I was completely prepared to vacate the seat,” Williams said.
Pitching coach Don Cooper will take over for Guillen for the final two games of the season, not bench coach and former Mariners second baseman Joey Cora.
Cora and Williams exchanged texts and had a phone conversation, and it was decided that Cora would not come to the park for the two games.
SHORT HOPS
Marlins second baseman Omar Infante says he agreed to an $8 million, two-year contract to remain with the team. … Authorities in the Dominican Republic say Florida closer Leo Nunez will not face charges for using false documents to sign a professional baseball contract. … The Dodgers asked a Delaware bankruptcy judge to postpone a hearing on a motion by MLB aimed at forcing a sale of the team. … Braves third baseman Chipper Jones had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his right knee but was in the lineup for Atlanta. The MRI showed a buildup of fluid and bone rubbing against bone, but no structural damage. … Tampa Bay first baseman Casey Kotchman was taken to a hospital after experiencing tightness in his chest. … Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore is expected to travel to Vail, Colo., for a Monday consultation on his injured right knee. … The Mets exercised the 2013 option on manager Terry Collins.
