Miami Marlins Fire Ozzie Guillen

After just one season, Ozzie Guillen is out in Miami as manager

By Hannah McCaffrey

(AP Photo)

The Miami Marlins released a statement Tuesday afternoon stating that that manager Ozzie Guillen is no longer part of the Marlins organization.  USA Today reported a statement by the Marlins president Larry Beinfast regarding Guillen’s termination:

“After careful consideration following the disappointment of the 2012 season, we decided to dismiss Ozzie.  Our hope is that a new manager, along with roster improvements, will restore a winning culture.”

Despite three years and $7.5 million remaining on Guillen’s contract, the Marlins determined that he needed to go.   The Marlins finished the season as the frustrating last placed team in the National League East with a 69-93 record.  However, the losing season was just one of the many factors that lead to firing Guillen.

Despite a losing record, Ozzie Guillen’s one year management stint with the Marlins was far from uneventful.  Guillen’s display of outbursts and antics did not come from out of the blue; he already had a reputation for this type of behavior when he managed the Chicago White Sox.  Guillen created an especially notable media frenzy when he decided to voice his admiration for Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro.  Things quickly unraveled from there as Guillen continued to have problems with fans, players, and the front office.

The Marlins seem eager to clean house and put this unfortunate season behind them as quickly as possible.  In addition to firing Ozzie Guillen, The Marlins also traded pitcher Heath Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The Marlins got rid of most of Bell’s $21 million contract and received two prospects, Yordy Cabrera and Chris Young.

Losing a manager and a starting pitcher all within a week, and not really gaining anything in return.  There are rumors of Alex Rodriguez possibly coming to Miami, but how realistic that is, no one can really say for sure yet.  It seems that this may be just the start for the Marlins housekeeping, they are in for an extremely eventful off-season.