Guillen Wants Contract Extension

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 31, 2011 6:20PM

With his team barely over .500 and thisclose to being eliminated from the playoff hunt, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has gone public with his desire for a contract extension. The Sox skipper has one more year on his current deal, but wants security beyond 2012 before next season.

Said Guillen, "I'm tied up with them for another (year), but that doesn't mean I have to come back. That's up to them. The one thing I make clear, I don't think I'm going to be back here for a one-year contract."

To try and force the issue, Guillen again alluded to the Florida Marlins job as leverage. WIth a home in Miami and time with the Marlins as a coach before joining the White Sox as manager, his name as repeatedly been linked to the job in South Florida. Since Edwin Rodriguez's resignation in June, 80-year-old Jack McKeon has managed the Marlins. Clearly he's not in their long terms plans at that age. The Marlins are apparently willing to offer Guillen a four-year deal if they can get permission to meet with him.

Adding fuel to the fire are reports Guillen's relationship with general Manager Kenny Williams is as strained as ever. Would Guillen leave Chicago for the Marlins if he doesn't get an extension from Williams? Does he deserve one?

When asked about Ozzie's comments, Williams deferred for now, stating, "Winning takes care of a lot of things." We think the Sox middling performance in 2011 is due much more to Adam Dunn's and Alex Rios' inability to hit than anything within Ozzie's control, and we can't imagine the Sox without him just yet.