By Mark Gonzales
INDIANAPOLIS -- Carlos Quentin could move from left field to his natural position in right field, according to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
Guillen said this is the tentative plan and was well aware that any acquisitions could result in Quentin moving back to left, where he has played the past two seasons with the Sox.
Guillen also was asked frequently about free agent Hideki Matsui, who could fortify the Sox's offense but could be deemed too expensive unless the Sox can clear some salary. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and agent Arn Tellem, who represents Matsui, have a healthy relationship.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Carlos Quentin could move from left field to his natural position in right field, according to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
Guillen said this is the tentative plan and was well aware that any acquisitions could result in Quentin moving back to left, where he has played the past two seasons with the Sox.
Guillen also was asked frequently about free agent Hideki Matsui, who could fortify the Sox's offense but could be deemed too expensive unless the Sox can clear some salary. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and agent Arn Tellem, who represents Matsui, have a healthy relationship.
Matsui, 35, was limited to designated-hitter duty because he was
coming off knee surgery with the New York Yankees, but he hit 28 home
runs and drove in 90 runs in 142 games with the Yankees.
When asked if he would be interested in managing Matsui, Guillen replied: "I don't mind. I managed two Japanese players and had fun.
" ... We got room for a lot of people. We need one more guy. It could be him. He has to show us he can play the outfield, too."
Quentin, meanwhile, played most of his baseball career in right field, where he was an All-American at Stanford and was a first-round pick in 2003 of Arizona.
"Center field is going to be Alex Rios, and right field will be Carlos Quentin, so far," Guillen said Monday at his session with reporters. "That is (Quentin's) natural position. That's what I think."
Jermaine Dye played the past two seasons in right for the Sox but wasn't offered salary arbitration after he filed for free agency following the Sox's decision not to pick up his option. Interest in Dye, particularly from Texas, is expected to intensify this week.
"(Quentin) can play wherever he wants (left or right field) and feel more comfortable," Guillen said. "We're going to leave him there."
Guillen also said Rios would remain in center even if Andruw Jones earns a starting job.
"I think right now Rios is a better center fielder than Andruw Jones," Guillen said.
Regardless of how the Sox's roster is shaped, Guillen said the two players who will be instrumental in their fortunes for 2010 are Rios and Quentin.
"If those two guys play the way they should be playing, I think this club will have a good offense," Guillen said.
As for Matsui's performance, Guillen said: "He gave (Yankees manager) Joe Girardi a ring. Unbelievable. Very, very good. Very proud. He stepped up when they needed it the most. And it's not because of the World Series nobody would be talking about him right now. He had another good year, but I think the World Series would help him a lot."
Guillen also told a group of Detroit reporters that he wasn't with Detroit slugger and friend Miguel Cabrera in the early morning hours at a Detroit hotel bar before Cabrera was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife in early October.
"I wish Miguel was with me, because all this (bleep) wouldn't have happened," Guillen said.
When asked if he would be interested in managing Matsui, Guillen replied: "I don't mind. I managed two Japanese players and had fun.
" ... We got room for a lot of people. We need one more guy. It could be him. He has to show us he can play the outfield, too."
Quentin, meanwhile, played most of his baseball career in right field, where he was an All-American at Stanford and was a first-round pick in 2003 of Arizona.
"Center field is going to be Alex Rios, and right field will be Carlos Quentin, so far," Guillen said Monday at his session with reporters. "That is (Quentin's) natural position. That's what I think."
Jermaine Dye played the past two seasons in right for the Sox but wasn't offered salary arbitration after he filed for free agency following the Sox's decision not to pick up his option. Interest in Dye, particularly from Texas, is expected to intensify this week.
"(Quentin) can play wherever he wants (left or right field) and feel more comfortable," Guillen said. "We're going to leave him there."
Guillen also said Rios would remain in center even if Andruw Jones earns a starting job.
"I think right now Rios is a better center fielder than Andruw Jones," Guillen said.
Regardless of how the Sox's roster is shaped, Guillen said the two players who will be instrumental in their fortunes for 2010 are Rios and Quentin.
"If those two guys play the way they should be playing, I think this club will have a good offense," Guillen said.
As for Matsui's performance, Guillen said: "He gave (Yankees manager) Joe Girardi a ring. Unbelievable. Very, very good. Very proud. He stepped up when they needed it the most. And it's not because of the World Series nobody would be talking about him right now. He had another good year, but I think the World Series would help him a lot."
Guillen also told a group of Detroit reporters that he wasn't with Detroit slugger and friend Miguel Cabrera in the early morning hours at a Detroit hotel bar before Cabrera was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife in early October.
"I wish Miguel was with me, because all this (bleep) wouldn't have happened," Guillen said.
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Yo Ozzie, what are you saying. Please don't tell me the Sox are getting Alfonzo Sorryano and putting him in right.