When the Florida Marlins inquired about a trade for then-Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox asked for the same player in return as they did a year ago when Florida made the same inquiry: Logan Morrison.

But even though he has been a thorn in management's side for much of the past season, the team refused to accept Chicago's offer, according to the Miami Herald.

Instead, team owner Jeffrey Loria, who was involved in the negotiations, held out with the implicit threat that he would try to sign former Mets manager Bobby Valentine if the White Sox refused to budge.

Valentine very nearly accepted the Marlins' top job in 2010 after Loria fired then-manager Fredi Gonzalez. The team ended up hiring Edwin Rodriguez instead.

But regardless, the fact that the Marlins preferred to hold on to their outspoken outfielder is a good sign that the front office is devoted to putting the best product they can on the field when the new stadium opens next year.

Morrison ran afoul with Loria a few times last season, criticizing him for firing the team's hitting coach in June, openly feuding with team star Hanley Ramirez, and earning a time-out in Triple-A for skipping out on a photo-op with season ticket holders.

But he was still one of the best hitters on the team last season. His batting average was a disappointing .247, but his power numbers improved (he went from 2 home runs in 2010 to 23 in 2011).

Besides, a big drop in his batting average on balls in play (or BABIP, which fell from .351 in 2010 to .265 in 2011) could explain his struggles at the plate. BABIP is is largely a measure of luck, meaning he could see significant improvement from a likely reversion to his career average of .295.

Either of the two prospects they did give up for Guillen, infielder Ozzie Martinez and pitcher Jhan Marinez, could conceivably wind up making the Marlins look foolish in the long run, like when the team gave up slugging 1B Adrian Gonzalez (then a minor leaguer) for reliever Ugueth Urbina in 2003.

However, the Marlins made the safe play by offering a pair of unproven players for Guillen instead of Morrison, who figures to be a focal point of the team's batting order (along with Ramirez and Mike Stanton) for years to come.