OZZIE ERA BEGINS FOR MIAMI MARLINS

The Marlins gave Ozzie Guillen a four-year, $10 million deal – hoping the brash skipper will bring on-field success and also help fill the team’s new stadium.

Ozzie returns to his hometown of Miami Florida to light a fire under the NL East last place Marlins, who will also undergo a name change in 2012, swapping the ‘Florida’ for a more logical ‘Miami Marlins’ handle.

Guillen, who was with the Marlins as a 3rd base coach during their 2003 championship run, finishes his 8-year tenure in Chicago where he led the Sox to a World Series title in ’05, but after missing the play-offs the past three seasons, and repeated clashes with GM Kenny Williams, the Sox decided it was time to cut ties with their former shortstop and manager.

Marlins sign Reyes to six-year deal.

The suddenly splurging Miami Marlins landed their second big free agent in a matter of days, agreeing Sunday night to a $106 million, six-year contract with All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

After adding All-Star closer Heath Bell for $27 million over three years, the Marlins gave the NL batting champion a deal that includes a club option for 2018 that would make the contract worth $120 million, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been announced.

Marlins keep adding to their arsenal.

A few hours after the Marlins introduced Reyes, manager Ozzie Guillen said the team had reached a deal with free-agent pitcher Mark Buehrle. And the week has been dominated by Miami’s pursuit of three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols.

Leaving the cash-strapped New York Mets, who signed him when he was 16, Reyes accepted an offer that pays him US$10-million in each of the next two seasons, US$16-million in 2014 and US$22-million in each of the final three years. Miami has a US$22-million option for 2018 with a US$4-million buyout, which could raise the total to US$124-million.

Wearing the new look of the Marlins – a cap with a blue, white, orange and yellow “M” with a swoosh that looks like it could be a logo for a fast food chain — Reyes’ dreadlocks dangled onto the white jersey of the team, which was renamed from the Florida Marlins as it prepares to move into its $515 million downtown ballpark next season.

“Hanley is a key to our team and we have every intention of him being our third baseman. We have dealt with him respectfully,” said Marlins president of baseball operations, Larry Beinfest. And when Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen, an old shortstop himself, was asked about moving from the position, he said: “They don’t move me. They release me. Good players can move – A-Rod. Cal Ripken did. Michael Young went from shortstop to second base, to third base, everywhere and he almost won the MVP last year. Bad players get released.”

Meanwhile, Giants GM Brian Sabean said he’s abandoned ideas of acquiring a power outfield bat. Instead, the Giants now plan to go with a platoon of Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera in center, Aubrey Huff in left with Brandon Belt moving in as the fulltime first baseman.