Ozzie Guillen is one and done.
The Miami Marlins fired Guillen on Tuesday after just one season.
President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said the team would now begin
a search for what will be the eighth manager in Jeffrey Loria's 12 seasons as
team owner. The Marlins will have their fourth different Opening Day manager
in four years at the start of the 2013 season.
Guillen's Marlins went just 69-93, good for a second straight last-place
finish in the National League East.
The Marlins signed Guillen last fall to a four-year, $10 million
contract. They will be responsible for the remainder of that deal, or $7.5
million over the next three years. As a result, the Marlins likely will turn
to a younger and, therefore, less expensive manager to replace Guillen.
"After careful consideration following the disappointment of the 2012
season, we decided to dismiss Ozzie," Beinfest said in a prepared statement.
"Our managerial search begins immediately and our hope is that a new manager,
along with roster improvements, will restore a winning culture."
Sources said Loria, as well as some members of the front office, didn't
care for the clubhouse culture that was created under Guillen.
More changes to the coaching staff could be forthcoming. Given that bench
coach Joey Cora has long been Guillen's right-hand man in the dugout with the
White Sox and Marlins, it would seem highly unlikely he will be retained.
In spring training, Guillen touted his team as well balanced and ready to
win. But a dismal June took the Marlins out of contention for good, and
management dismantled the roster in July.
The season went sour from the start. Guillen's comments praising Castro
in a magazine interview angered Cuban Americans, who make up a large segment
of the Marlins' fan base. The Venezuelan manager apologized repeatedly at a
news conference for his remarks about the former Cuban leader. Guillen then
began a five-game suspension only five games into his stay with the team.
"That was a very, very hard situation for me and the people around me,"
Guillen said in September. "It was maybe the worst thing I ever did."
In September 2011, Guillen left the Chicago White Sox after eight
seasons. Some 24 hours later he sealed a four-year deal with the Marlins,
where he was a third-base coach for the 2003 World Series championship team.
"I feel like I'm back home," he said at the time.
