December 9, 200421 yr Bleh. Padres ink Williams, Blum Veterans provide stability, leadership for 2005 By Mike Scarr / MLB.com Woody Williams was a member of the Padres from 1999-2001. There aren't many opportunities to get a second chance, but on Wednesday general manager Kevin Towers was able to erase what he feels was his biggest blunder. Towers signed right-handed pitcher Woody Williams to a one-year deal plus an option in 2006 for a guaranteed base of $3.5 million with incentives. The Padres also signed infielder Geoff Blum. Williams spent parts of three seasons in a Padres uniform, posting a winning record of 30-28 from 1999-2001 on teams that otherwise struggled. But Towers packed Williams off to the Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Ray Lankford and cash as the club trimmed payroll. It was a move that Towers has regretted since the moment he pulled the trigger. Wednesday, he was able to do something about it. Complete coverage > "The worst deal I ever made was trading Woody Williams," Towers said. "It's not often as a GM that you can make a mistake and bring that player back." Williams also enjoyed his time in San Diego, but understood the business decision at the time. It was with the Padres that Williams developed into a bona fide Major League starter. It was also with the Padres that Williams underwent surgery for an aneurism under his right arm that nearly ended his career. So after the Cardinals declined his $8 million option for 2005, Williams made a short list that included his hometown Astros and the Padres. "San Diego was at the top of my list," Williams said. "They showed interest and that's all that my family and I needed." Williams is the first part of what the Padres hope will be a veteran tandem in their otherwise young rotation. The club offered free agent pitcher David Wells salary arbitration at the Tuesday deadline and have until Jan. 8 to make a deal for the left-hander. "This just makes us that much stronger," Towers said. "We hope to come to terms with Boomer. If we can accomplish that, we'll have a strong rotation. My goal now is to bridge the gap between the Padres and Boomer." Towers expects Williams to add experience to the Padres but also the right style to match the ballpark. Towers believes Williams, a fly-ball pitcher, will have success at pitcher-friendly PETCO Park and hopes for similar numbers as his time in St. Louis. At Busch Stadium, Williams was 25-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 47 starts. Manager Bruce Bochy, who was at the helm during Williams' first tour with the Padres, welcomed the signing. "Woody has always been a good pitcher," Bochy said. "We're getting an outstanding pitcher and an outstanding person." After leaving San Diego, Williams blossomed with the Cardinals, posting a 45-22 mark and a 3.50 ERA. He went 11-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 31 starts for the Cardinals last season and won 10 of his last 13 decisions after opening the season 2-5. The 38-year-old also made four starts this past October, going 2-0 as the Cardinals advanced to the World Series, where they were swept by the Red Sox. Williams had a rough outing in his World Series start, allowing seven runs over 2 1/3 innings in Game 1. The Padres are counting on his playoff experience. "I have a bigger job than pitching every fifth day," Williams said, who did not pitch at PETCO last season. "I'll be there to help tutor the younger players. My job is to help this team get to the postseason." Blum represents the start of a new-look bench for the Padres in 2005 after the club declined to offer arbitration to infielders Rich Aurilia, Dave Hansen, Robert Fick and Alex Gonzalez. The switch-hitting Blum hit .215 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 112 games with the Devil Rays last season and holds a .254 career average with 56 homers over parts of six Major League seasons. "We're excited to have that type of versatile player here," Towers said of Blum, who can play all four infield positions and both corner outfield spots. "He should give Bruce plenty of options off the bench."
December 9, 200421 yr Much better signing than Freddy Garcia for $9 million per or Kris Benson at $7 million per.
December 9, 200421 yr Glad he's going back to SD since we decided not to bring him back.. Good luck Woody and thank you for your memories in STL!
December 11, 200421 yr not a bad 1-2 punch with Peavy and Woody the rest of their rotation aint bad at all good move, and a lot more reliable than boomer
December 11, 200421 yr not a bad 1-2 punch with Peavy and Woody the rest of their rotation aint bad at all good move, and a lot more reliable than boomer 632394[/snapback] What about Eaton man?
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