47-year old manager Ozzie Guillen has been released from his contract by the Chicago White Sox. He led the White Sox to a 4-3 home win over the Blue Jays in his last game as the manager last night. The White Sox finished 78-82 (48.8%) under Guillen this year as they are in 3rd place, 15 games behind the Tigers. Guillen was 678-617 (52.4%) in his 8 years as the manager of the White Sox during the regular season. He was also 12-4 (75%) during the post-season, including leading the White Sox to a World Series Championship in 2005. He was also the Manager of the Year in the American League in 2005. Tony LaRussa and Buddy Bell are the first two names being bandied around as Guillen’s replacement in Chicago. Guillen is likely going to win up managing the Florida Marlins in 2012. Guillen always made things fun in Chicago and he will be missed.

UPDATE: The White Sox have dealt Ozzie Guillen to the Florida Marlins for 23-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Osvaldo Martinez and 23-year old righty reliever Jhan Marinez. Martinez came into this year as the Marlins’ #5 prospect according to Baseball America. Martinez played in 20 games for the Marlins this year and he was 3 for 23 (.130 avg, .261 OPS) with 1 RBI. He has now played in 34 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 17 for 66 (.258 avg, .648 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 0 homers, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen bases. Martinez has also played in 88 games this year in AAA-ball and he is 83 for 339 (.245 avg, .618 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 3 homers, 26 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Martinez might just push Gordon Beckham for the starting second base job next spring. Marinez came into this year as the Marlins’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 56 games (0 starts) in AA-ball for the Marlins this year and he was 3-8 with 3 saves, a 3.57 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Marinez only has given up 47 hits while whiffing 74 batters in 58 innings this year in the minors, which is very impressive, but he has also walked 42 batters and that’s way too many. This was an outstanding move for the White Sox as they were looking to move on from Ozzie Guillen anyways. Pitching coach Don Cooper is going to manage the last two games this year for the White Sox.

UPDATE II: (9/29/2011) - The White Sox have also acquired 20-year old righty reliever Ricardo Andres from the Florida Marlins to complete this deal. Andres got into his first minor league action this year. He pitched in 12 games (0 starts) in Rookie-ball this year for the Marlins and he was 1-0 with a 6.32 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Andres gave up 17 hits (4 of which were homers) and he also walked 11 batters in his first 15 2/3 innings in the minors. He is going to be a developmental prospect for the White Sox.

27-year old switch-hitting outfielder Alejandro de Aza has been on fire with the bat since he was called up by the Pale Hose. de Aza has played in 51 games for the White Sox so far this year and he is 45 for 142 (.317 avg, .900 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 4 homers, 23 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He is playing by far the best baseball of his major league career right now. de Aza has now played in 137 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 92 for 336 (.274 avg, .734 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 4 homers, 36 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. The White Sox will probably pencil de Aza in for 2012 as a backup outfielder.

29-year old righty swinging shortstop Alexei Ramirez has been very consistent for the White Sox in his first four years with the team. He has played in 148 games this year for the Pale Hose and he is 157 for 580 (.271 avg, .730 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 14 homers, 66 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Ramirez has now played in 588 games in his first four years with the White Sox and he is 611 for 2,187 (.279 avg, .746 OPS) with 297 runs scored, 62 homers, 281 RBIs and 47 stolen bases. The White Sox have Ramirez locked in through the 2015 season with a team option for 2016, so they hope he keeps up the good work.

30-year old righty reliever Jesse Crain has been outstanding this year, so not all of the White Sox’ free agent signings last winter have sucked! Crain has pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the White Sox so far this year and he is 8-3 with 1 save, a 2.31 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He has only given up 46 hits while whiffing 66 batters in his first 62 1/3 innings for the Pale Hose this year and those are outstanding numbers. Crain has had issues with his control at times as he has walked 27 batters this year and that’s too many, but it’s also nitpicking. Crain has now pitched in 437 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 41-24 with 4 saves, a 3.26 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.

26-year old righty starting pitcher Dylan Axelrod is getting a chance to show what he can do the last couple of weeks as he is replacing Jake Peavy in the rotation. He has pitched in 2 games (1 start) for the White Sox so far this year and he is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Axelrod also pitched in 26 games (24 starts) in AA+AAA-ball so far this year and he is 9-3 with a 2.69 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has now pitched in 167 games (52 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 27-14 with 8 saves, a 2.80 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.