We probably should have seen this one coming, but now, it's official: Ozzie Guillen is out as Marlins manager after just one season.
Firing him nearly three weeks after the season ended seems like a bit of a low blow by Miami, with many major league coaching vacancies already filled. That also doesn't bode well for Miami's search for a replacement, as a lot of the sexiest names are locked up through 2013 already.
One guy that I think will be hot on the Marlins radar is Sandy Alomar Jr of the Indians, who would also be a good fit in Toronto to replace John Farrell. Alomar gives the Marlins an in with the Hispanic community (which they were shooting for with Guillen, and failed with), and is considered one of the rising stars in potential managerial ranks around the league.
Guillen's one season in Miami was a disaster, but I'm not sure how much of the on-field struggles were his fault. The Marlins went 69-93 in 2012 and finished last place in the NL East. After the All-Star Break, the team collapsed and went 28-49 as Hanley Ramirez, Omar Infante, Anibal Sanchez, and Gaby Sanchez were all dealt away. Heath Bell, an outspoken critic of Guillen's managerial style, also was traded, but his ouster came this past weekend when he was sent to the Diamondbacks in a three team deal.
So the Marlins have essentially taken care of all of the clubhouse problems that plagued them last season, right? If the team struggles next year, I wonder who the finger will be pointed out…owner Jeffrey Loria and GM Larry Beinfest would never look in the mirror and realize that the issue has nothing to do with the personnel on the field, would they?
