http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub01.html

Williamson on the block again

 

March 1, 2006

BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter

 

MESA, Ariz. -- Scott Williamson won't be the least bit surprised if he is traded this month.

 

As much as the right-handed reliever enjoys his Cubs teammates, he also wouldn't mind if a club that needed a closer came along, made a deal with general manager Jim Hendry and returned him to the ultimate relief role.

 

"I'm sure Jim wants me on the team, but the business aspect may come into play,'' Williamson said. "I understand. I have been on the trade block basically every year but 1999. Cincinnati was always trying to trade me for a starter or someone.

 

"It's going to be a tough decision for Jim, but he'll do what's best for the club. If that means I have to go somewhere else to help the club, fine, because I love these guys. I have definitely been there before as trade bait. You just let it happen.''

 

Williamson also might pitch so well in the Cactus League that the Cubs want to keep him as part of an improved bullpen. But where would he fit in with setup men Bob Howry and Scott Eyre brought in to support closer Ryan Dempster?

 

He has asked himself that.

 

"Yeah, which is kind of useless for me and useless for this team,'' Williamson said. "They got two really good pitchers as free agents. You can't send down Michael Wuertz; he's pitched too good the last couple years. [Todd] Wellemeyer is out of options, and he's a young guy you probably want to hold onto.

 

"I'd like to get back to the ninth inning again, where I have had a lot of success. There are a lot of teams out there still looking for closers. I pitched so well against Chicago in my [Reds] career, but the people here haven't really seen what I have. Hopefully, I can show them.''

 

Hendry had opportunities to trade Williamson during the offseason. He chose to go into spring training with an overloaded pitching inventory and decide what to do with his bullpen in March. Chances are, he will make one or more trades in the next month that involve his relievers.

 

"We are anxious to see how Scott is after he had a very solid closing career going for a while,'' Hendry said. "He started to show glimpses of some good stuff last September. He should be much better because he will be six months farther away from the surgery.''

 

Williamson underwent his second reconstructive right elbow surgery after the 2004 season, during which he had an impressive 1.28 ERA in 28 games for Boston and went 2-0 with three saves and a 1.13 ERA in the Red Sox' postseason run to the World Series title. In 2003, Williamson posted saves in 21 of 26 chances for the Reds before being traded at the July deadline to the Red Sox.

 

His first Tommy John surgery was in April 2001, and he didn't pitch again for the Reds until 2002. He had eight saves and a 2.92 ERA in that comeback season, in which he felt his velocity return after the All-Star break.

 

"It took me a year and a half to come back from the first one,'' he said. "I was throwing 91, 93 miles per hour, when all of a sudden after the All-Star break in '02, I started throwing 95 to 98 again.''

 

How quickly his velocity returns will be watched closely. He struggled last August in his comeback from the second surgery, but September was a positive without the optimum velocity.

 

"My sinker started working in September, even if the miles per hour wasn't there,'' Williamson said. ''I was still throwing 91, 93. I do feel the ball is coming out of my hand easier this spring than at the end of last year.''

 

He expects his heater to return to 95 to 98 mph.

 

"The more you pitch, it's going to come back,'' he said. "They will see the pitcher I was.''

Borchard for Williamson?

Edited March 1, 200620 yr by SSH2005

Show me a club that wants Scott Williamson as their closer and I will show you a stupid club.

Show me a Cub that wants Scott Williamson as their closer and I will show you a stupid Cub.

Fixed that for you.

Williamson and Hairston to Washington for Soriano?

Williamson and Hairston to Washington for Soriano?

That would be a decent deal for Washington, and would bring a butcher with a big bat to Wrigley.

Williamson and Hairston to Washington for Soriano?

 

Considering that they gave up Wilkerson for Soriano, this would be an awful deal for the Nats. Williamson can't be counted on to stay healthy (Nats have a good bullpen as it is), and Hairston isn't exactly MLB starting caliber. Soriano would hit 40 homers if he played at Wrigley.

Considering that they gave up Wilkerson for Soriano, this would be an awful deal for the Nats.  Williamson can't be counted on to stay healthy (Nats have a good bullpen as it is), and Hairston isn't exactly MLB starting caliber.  Soriano would hit 40 homers if he played at Wrigley.

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It would be an awful deal for the Nationals. Even though Soriano is only under contract for one season at $10 million and has already stated that he wants to sign back with an A.L. team next offseason, both Williamson and Hairston are only under 1-year contracts as well. Williamson still has to show that he is fully recovered from his surgery and that he can stay healthy like you said. Hairston is a mediocre offensive second baseman and his production would be even more pathetic in the outfield. I do disagree with you about Soriano hitting 40 homers at Wrigley though. He has only hit 64 homers in his past two seasons at Ameriquest Field, a much better hitter's park than Wrigley. The Cubs would probably have to give up Murton if they wanted Soriano.

It would be an awful deal for the Nationals.  Even though Soriano is only under contract for one season at $10 million and has already stated that he wants to sign back with an A.L. team next offseason, both Williamson and Hairston are only under 1-year contracts as well.  Williamson still has to show that he is fully recovered from his surgery and that he can stay healthy like you said.  Hairston is a mediocre offensive second baseman and his production would be even more pathetic in the outfield.  I do disagree with you about Soriano hitting 40 homers at Wrigley though.  He has only hit 64 homers in his past two seasons at Ameriquest Field, a much better hitter's park than Wrigley.  The Cubs would probably have to give up Murton if they wanted Soriano.

Anybody think Soriano could be a replacement for Gooch? I know he strikes out a lot, but he has a lot of potential.

Anybody think Soriano could be a replacement for Gooch? I know he strikes out a lot, but he has a lot of potential.

He wants a 100 million dollar contract.

 

Why not just keep Gooch?

Anybody think Soriano could be a replacement for Gooch? I know he strikes out a lot, but he has a lot of potential.

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Soriano is probably the most overrated player in baseball. He has been the worst defensive second baseman in baseball over the past three seasons. He also has never heard of the term OBP. He would make a good #5 hitter if he agreed to play LF, but he won't. Also, keep in mind that he's only under contract for 2006 at $10 million. He is going to get overpaid by some team next offseason. I'd rather have Iguchi and his dirt-cheap contract for the next two seasons ($2.4 million in 2006, $3.25 million team option for 2007).

Considering that they gave up Wilkerson for Soriano, this would be an awful deal for the Nats.  Williamson can't be counted on to stay healthy (Nats have a good bullpen as it is), and Hairston isn't exactly MLB starting caliber.  Soriano would hit 40 homers if he played at Wrigley.

How's that Nats BP now?

I really dont want soriano

Ill take game 2 winner of the alds, gooch!

Soriano is probably the most overrated player in baseball.  He has been the worst defensive second baseman in baseball over the past three seasons.  He also has never heard of the term OBP.  He would make a good #5 hitter if he agreed to play LF, but he won't.  Also, keep in mind that he's only under contract for 2006 at $10 million.  He is going to get overpaid by some team next offseason.  I'd rather have Iguchi and his dirt-cheap contract for the next two seasons ($2.4 million in 2006, $3.25 million team option for 2007).

You forget to mentioned how he doesn't know how to hit outside of The Ballpark in Arlington, posting a pathetic .639 OPS on the road last year, and a .735 OPS on the road the year before.

If I'm the White Sox, I'd take a flyer on him.

You forget to mentioned how he doesn't know how to hit outside of The Ballpark in Arlington, posting a pathetic .639 OPS on the road last year, and a .735 OPS on the road the year before.

And an .805 OPS at Yankee Stadium the year before that (with a .917 OPS on the road that year).