Mitch Williams has heard that his name has popped up in trade talks.
”Dickie Noles (one-time Cub pitcher) called me from Philly and said the paper there said I`m being traded straight up for Roger McDowell,” Williams said Wednesday. ”Is that true?”
It doesn`t appear to be. Seattle reportedly is mulling a deal that would involve the Cubs` left-handed reliever, but sources say conversations between the clubs haven`t become serious. Williams handled it philosophically.
”If they trade me, it won`t be the first team to do it. If (the Cubs)
think I`m done, they`ve got another thing coming.”
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He had a bit of advice for the Cubs: Sign George Bell. ”George is a great guy. He got a bad rap. He`s a terrific guy to have on your team.”
Coleman to Mets: The New York Mets, weakened by the defection of Darryl Strawberry, signed Vince Coleman for an estimated $12 million over four years. ”Vince Coleman will add a new dimension to our lineup that we haven`t had in some time,” Mets General Manager Frank Cashen said. ”He just brings fear into the hearts of the opposition each time he gets on base.”
That`s true, but no Met could produce as much sweat in the other dugout as Strawberry, who went to Los Angeles for $20 million.
Giant steps: San Francisco, its bullpen strengthened by Tuesday`s signing of free agent Dave Righetti, swapped right-hander Steve Bedrosian to Minnesota for Double-A pitcher Johnny Ard and a player to be named later. The Giants had outbid the Twins for Righetti.
More moves: Atlanta, which had grabbed Terry Pendleton for third base two days earlier, signed ex-Pirates first baseman Sid Bream for three years at $5.5 million. Atlanta last year signed free agent Nick Esasky to play first, but he missed most of the year suffering from a mysterious case of vertigo. What happens if Esasky rallies? ”Then,” said GM John Schuerholz, ”we`ll have two fine first basemen.” . . . . The Brewers, needing a slugger to replace Rob Deer, signed ex-Astro Franklin Stubbs for three years at $6 million. . . . Other signings: free agent Pat Tabler, who finished last season with the Mets, by Toronto, $1.6 million for two years; Tony Bernazard, the ex- Sox infielder, by the Tigers, for about $600,000 for one year.
Wishing for Welch: Oakland GM Sandy Alderson on re-signing free agent Bob Welch: ”I`m optimistic. I`d like to be as confident as he (manager Tony LaRussa) is. On the other hand, we lost four guys (Dave Parker, Tony Phillips, Storm Davis and Matt Young) last year. I remember saying, `Maybe we`d lose one or two`-and then, wham, they`re all gone.”
White Sox GM Ron Schueler`s guess: Bidding for Welch will start at $12 million for four years.
King comments: Eric King on Welch and the Sox: ”They`re going to need him now.”
King, with Shawn Hillegas, went to the Indians Tuesday night in the trade that sent outfielder Cory Snyder and minor-league infielder Lindsay Foster to Chicago. If he was shaken by the deal, it didn`t show. ”That`s expected in baseball,” King said Wednesday from his California home. ”They`ve (the Indians) got a young ballclub. Hopefully, I`ll have a chance to help them out. I feel good about it.”
Seeing Red: The Cincinnati Reds went to bed Tuesday night thinking they had a deal with Zane Smith: four years, $10.5 million. But when GM Bob Quinn called Smith`s agent, Joe Sroba, to confirm it Wednesday morning, Sroba wanted time to think about it. What he got was a loud ”click” as Quinn slammed down his receiver.
”It`s absolutely, positively, dead,” Quinn said of the deal. ”I value my integrity, and I feel we were at the very least misled. We met the very price he wanted for a deal, and all of a sudden the price of poker went up. I`m tired of the old game (of) `Can you top this?` That`s precisely what`s going on in this negotiation. I told him, `The Quinn reputation was built on honesty and integrity. Since you don`t have that same integrity, there`s nothing more for us to talk about.` I hung up the phone, and I can guarantee you there was no `goodbye.` ”
Cincinnati did re-sign free-agent second baseman Bill Doran. Terms: three years, $7.4 million. When the Blue Jays failed to sign Doran-and they reportedly made a socko offer-they called the Padres.