White Sox GM Williams says he offered to step aside

CHICAGO -- White Sox general manager Ken Williams said Tuesday he's offered to step aside or take another job in the organization after some of his moves failed to pan out and the team floundered.

Williams made his comments in the dugout the day after manager Ozzie Guillen was released from his contract with one year remaining. Guillen is expected to become the Marlins' new manager.

Williams said he made the offer to owner Jerry Reinsdorf and would have understood if the White Sox wanted to put someone else in his seat. Chicago will miss the playoffs for a third straight season. And Williams' biggest offseason acquisition, Adam Dunn, entered the final two games with a .160 batting average and 11 homers.

"It has not worked out, you have to be accountable for that," Williams said.

"I've been sitting in this chair for a long time anyway. ... There comes a time when everyone has an expiration date," he added.

How did Reinsdorf respond?

"He didn't like it very much, but I felt compelled to reiterate that I was completely prepared to vacate the seat," Williams said.

Asked when he had the conversation with Reinsdorf about stepping aside, Williams replied: "One year ago, six months ago, four months, three weeks ago, two weeks ago."

Williams also reiterated he has a short list of candidates to replace Guillen and has started to work on finding a successor. He said there is a top candidate and there might be a person involved in the postseason he wishes to interview, so it could drag on for a while.

He said former major league manager Buddy Bell, who is Chicago's director of player personnel, is not interested in the position.

Guillen, whose relationship with Williams had become increasingly strained the last two years, left when he couldn't get a contract extension. He had a year remaining on his deal after the team picked up his 2012 option in January.

Guillen is expected to become the Marlins' manager this week, and the White Sox will receive at least two players from Florida in return.

Bench coach Joey Cora, who could join Guillen in Florida, was expected to run the White Sox for the final two games. But Williams said he sent a text to Cora telling him pitching coach Don Cooper would be the interim manager. After a phone conversation, Williams said it was agreed that Cora -- Guillen's close friend and former teammate - would not come to the park and create an awkward situation.

Asked what he said in his final meeting with Guillen, once his teammate with the White Sox, Williams replied: "I didn't have a meeting with him. There was nothing to meet about."

The White Sox were sorting out the changes before Tuesday night's game against Toronto and pretty much agreed on one thing: The clubhouse would be quieter with Guillen gone. And most said they would miss their former manager.

"Ozzie enjoyed yelling at me every once in a while as I was going about my business and made me look up to get distracted," said outfielder Carlos Quentin, who is generally a man of few words. "He had a good time doing that. Like I said, I'm very fond of Ozzie and our relationship is a good one."

Guillen, who led the White Sox to a World Series title in 2005, was the self-described face of the franchise and knew now to stir things up. He managed the White Sox for eight years and was the team's shortstop for 13 seasons.

"I know it hurts him to have to leave, but I think in some ways it's going to be good for him. Obviously the White Sox feel like it can in some ways be good for the White Sox. So I guess it's as mutual as it can be," second baseman Gordon Beckham said.

"He was unique and he brought something to the table that a lot of people didn't and that was his charisma and all that stuff and the way he handled everything. It's going to be interesting to see where it goes."

Cooper and Harold Baines, another friend of Guillen's, got new multiyear deals Tuesday as the White Sox made their first after-Ozzie moves.

"I don't believe what we've seen here and experienced here in the last eight years may ever happen again," Cooper said.

"I'm not talking about winning a world championship -- I'm hoping that is in the cards. But, interesting guy, certainly colorful. ... No matter who steps in, there's going to be a difference."

First baseman Paul Konerko said there was a sense of relief to finally have the Guillen-Williams situation resolved.

"When it comes to your job, there's only so much you can take of the stress level and everything else. When something like this happens, everyone is a bit relieved because they realize this isn't life and death," Konerko said.

"Ozzie's going to be fine, Kenny's going to be fine. Everybody's going to be fine. We're going to move on."