White Sox Manager Being Traded To Marlins?

CBSSports.com -- Matt Snyder

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has long been rumored to be on the wish list of the Florida Marlins, especially now as they look for a fresh start heading into a new stadium for 2012. Earlier Monday night, Guillen had a colorful session with media before the White Sox hosted the Blue Jays.

Now, a rumor has surfaced that Guillen is headed to the Marlins. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting the White Sox are in talks with the Marlins to send Guillen to Miami -- citing "multiple sources." In fact, Cowley reports Monday night's game will be Guillen's last with the White Sox -- who still have two games remaining in the season.

While very rare, it's not without precedent for a player to be traded for a manager, albeit unofficially. Tampa Bay sent outfielder Randy Winn to the Mariners for little return in 2002, but manager Lou Piniella went back to the then-Devil Rays as compensation. Last offseason, the big rumor was that the White Sox seeked promising young outfielder Logan Morrison in return for Guillen, but the Marlins wouldn't cough up that much. Under the current circumstances, it's very doubtful the White Sox could get anything even close to a player of Morrison's caliber.

The Marlins are ready to make a big splash this coming offseason in anticipation of changing their name to the Miami Marlins, getting a new logo and moving into a new home. One report indicated they plan a huge movement in free agency, with increasing the payroll to close to $100 million a possibility.

Bringing in a manager with Guillen's pedigree would only increase the excitement in Miami. Hey, maybe he'll even say he's "taking [his] talents to South Beach" after the game Monday night ...