CHICAGO - Ozzie Guillen was certain he was the right person to be manager of the White Sox, regardless of what his resume did or didn't say.
Two hours into his first interview, general manager Kenny Williams agreed.
"The passion, the commitment, the energy, the game knowledge, the aggressive attitude," Williams said Monday in introducing Guillen as manager of the team with which he spent 13 years of his 16-year career.
"He bleeds White Sox baseball. There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to provide something here we desperately need. A jolt, if you will."
When Williams fired Jerry Manuel on Sept. 29 in the wake of the White Sox's meltdown, he was certain he wanted a manager with experience.
Former Toronto manager Cito Gaston was believed to be an early favorite, and Williams said he talked to Tom Kelly and Jim Leyland to see if either had interest in getting back into baseball.
But then came Guillen. He retired in 2000 after one season with the Devil Rays, and his only experience was as a coach, the past two years as third-base coach for the World Series champion Marlins.
Williams set aside four hours for their interview, never thinking he would need more.
"By the time that second hour hit," Williams said, "I was convinced he was the guy."
Though Williams' mind was made up, he brought the 39-year-old Guillen back for a second interview. He offered him the job Sunday night, and Guillen signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year Monday.
"It's an honor for me," Guillen said. "It took me a little while to get back and wear this uniform. Hopefully it'll be the last uniform I ever wear."
Guillen's passion for the White Sox is undeniable. The former All-Star shortstop never stopped smiling Monday. And when he walked out the door to catch a plane back to Florida, he still was wearing his new White Sox cap.
But his honesty impressed Williams, too. Thirty seconds after he walked in the door, Guillen told Williams he wasn't going to try to impress him or tell Williams what he thought the GM wanted to hear.
He was going to be Guillen, take it or leave it.
"I believe managers are hired to get fired. But if I'm going to get fired, it's going to be my way," Guillen said. "Every player who wears this uniform is going to play the game right. If they don't play the game right, they're not going to play for me."
Astros deal closer to Phils
PHILADELPHIA - Billy Wagner questioned Houston ownership's commitment to winning. He won't have those problems with the Phillies.
The All-Star closer was traded from the cost-cutting Astros to Philadelphia for right-hander Brandon Duckworth and minor-league right-handers Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio.
Wagner, a three-time All-Star, goes from one of baseball's best bullpens to among its worst. The Phillies converted 33 saves in 51 opportunities as Jose Mesa and Mike Williams both faltered.
"I'm excited about coming to Philadelphia because they obviously have made a commitment to winning a championship," Wagner said.
Wagner had criticized Astros owner Drayton McLane for not making a move to get another quality starting pitcher for the 2003 season and expected more of the same for next season.
Wagner didn't back off.
"My comments to Drayton were truthful. They were about winning, not about him being a bad owner," Wagner said.
MATTINGLY BACK: Don Mattingly is returning to the Yankees.
A six-time All-Star who was team captain from 1991 until his retirement in 1995, Mattingly was persuaded by owner George Steinbrenner to become the team's hitting coach. A news conference is expected today.
FREE AGENTS: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez filed for free agency nine days after helping the Marlins win the World Series.
Rodriguez also became a free agent after the 2002 season. When he didn't find a deal to his liking, he agreed Jan. 20 to a $10-million, one-year contract.
Florida outfielders Todd Hollandsworth and Gerald Williams, a former Devil Ray, also were among 13 players who filed, raising the total to 196.
DON KING STADIUM?: Boxing promoter Don King wants the Marlins to build a ballpark on 54 acres of property he owns in Palm Beach County.
King owns a jai-alai fronton in Mangonia Park that he said would be an ideal site for the proposed park, spokesman Robert Weneck said. If the ballpark has a roof, King would stage boxing matches in the arena during the offseason.
That would help the Marlins pay the estimated cost of $325-million for the stadium, King said.
Marlins spokesman Steve Copses did not have an immediate comment.
BRAVES: All-Star pitcher Russ Ortiz, the NL wins leader with 21, will be back with Atlanta for another season after the team exercised an option for a second year.
ORIOLES: Yankees first-base coach Lee Mazzilli has emerged as the leading candidate to land the managerial job, the Baltimore Sun reported. The team's six-man search committee has reached a consensus favoring Mazzilli, but the process has yet to enter the critical final phase, which will involve owner Peter Angelos.
PADRES: Former general manager Randy Smith was rehired as director of professional and international scouting, his third stint with the club.
RED SOX: Dodgers coach and former Boston infielder Glenn Hoffman was the first person to interview for the vacant managerial job, meeting with general manager Theo Epstein for seven hours. President Larry Lucchino sat in on some of the meeting. "I thought today went well," Hoffman said. "The organization seems to be in good hands."
