iFroggy
04-07-2001, 11:49 AM
NEW ORLEANS – Saints running back Ricky Williams has contacted the Texas Rangers about pursuing a return to baseball, a Rangers official told the Times-Picayune of New Orleans on Friday.
The Saints say it's news to them that Williams contacted the Rangers at the end of spring training, the Times-Picayune reported Saturday.
The Rangers confirmed a preliminary call from the former Heisman trophy winner, who has been on the team's restricted list since March 4, 1999. Williams contract with the Saints does not prohibit playing baseball. Williams has not reported to the Saints voluntary offseason conditioning program, forfeiting a $100,000 bonus. A representative of Williams made a preliminary call to Rangers general manager Doug Melvin during the last week of spring training to discuss his interest, said John Blake, the Rangers' vice president of communications.
Williams has not played baseball since spending 12 games with Batavia of the Class A New York-Penn League in 1998.
"It was a very preliminary call, and we have not heard anything else," Blake said. "That's where it stands, and until we hear otherwise we are not taking it very seriously."
Williams has told friends he is interested in playing baseball again, but the third-year pro hasn't discussed the issue with Saints officials.
"We talked with Ricky today, and he didn't mention it (baseball)," Saints general manager Randy Mueller said. "It's all news to us."
Coach Jim Haslett said earlier this week that he has heard rumors about Williams' interest in baseball but that neither Williams nor David Dunn, one of Williams' agents, has broached the subject during recent conversations. Haslett said Wednesday he has not talked with Williams in two weeks.
Williams is working out in San Diego and did not immediately return a phone call to the Times-Picayune on Friday. None of his Assante Corp. agents, Dunn, Leigh Steinberg or Jeff Moorad, returned phone calls this week.
Williams is the only player under contract who has not reported for the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program. The 15-week program began March 19. Williams has missed 12 sessions.
Williams' contract with the Saints does not prevent him from playing baseball. He already has forfeited $100,000, however, for failing to participate in 90 percent of the workout sessions this season. It is the second consecutive season he has failed to meet that contractual obligation.
If Williams does want to play, he'll have to clear several hurdles to return to the diamond at this point in the season.
First, he would need to file a formal request to the Rangers, who have had him on their restricted list since March 4, 1999, when he announced his intentions to skip spring training and concentrate on his rookie season in the NFL.
The Rangers purchased Williams' contract for $100,000 on Dec. 15, 1998, from the Montreal Expos, who selected the outfielder from Philadelphia's Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster the previous afternoon during Major League Baseball's Rule Five draft.
Williams' contract remains the property of the Rangers, but under rules of the Rule Five draft, he must be offered back to the Phillies for $25,000. If the Phillies do not want to retain Williams' rights, he then would be placed on waivers.
In four minor-league seasons in the Phillies system, Williams hit .211 with four home runs and 40 RBI. In 12 games with Class A Batavia of the New York-Penn League, Williams hit .288, had a nine-game hitting streak and stole six bases in 53 at-bats.
4 minor league seasons: .211 with 4 HRs? I could do better then that! :D
The Saints say it's news to them that Williams contacted the Rangers at the end of spring training, the Times-Picayune reported Saturday.
The Rangers confirmed a preliminary call from the former Heisman trophy winner, who has been on the team's restricted list since March 4, 1999. Williams contract with the Saints does not prohibit playing baseball. Williams has not reported to the Saints voluntary offseason conditioning program, forfeiting a $100,000 bonus. A representative of Williams made a preliminary call to Rangers general manager Doug Melvin during the last week of spring training to discuss his interest, said John Blake, the Rangers' vice president of communications.
Williams has not played baseball since spending 12 games with Batavia of the Class A New York-Penn League in 1998.
"It was a very preliminary call, and we have not heard anything else," Blake said. "That's where it stands, and until we hear otherwise we are not taking it very seriously."
Williams has told friends he is interested in playing baseball again, but the third-year pro hasn't discussed the issue with Saints officials.
"We talked with Ricky today, and he didn't mention it (baseball)," Saints general manager Randy Mueller said. "It's all news to us."
Coach Jim Haslett said earlier this week that he has heard rumors about Williams' interest in baseball but that neither Williams nor David Dunn, one of Williams' agents, has broached the subject during recent conversations. Haslett said Wednesday he has not talked with Williams in two weeks.
Williams is working out in San Diego and did not immediately return a phone call to the Times-Picayune on Friday. None of his Assante Corp. agents, Dunn, Leigh Steinberg or Jeff Moorad, returned phone calls this week.
Williams is the only player under contract who has not reported for the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program. The 15-week program began March 19. Williams has missed 12 sessions.
Williams' contract with the Saints does not prevent him from playing baseball. He already has forfeited $100,000, however, for failing to participate in 90 percent of the workout sessions this season. It is the second consecutive season he has failed to meet that contractual obligation.
If Williams does want to play, he'll have to clear several hurdles to return to the diamond at this point in the season.
First, he would need to file a formal request to the Rangers, who have had him on their restricted list since March 4, 1999, when he announced his intentions to skip spring training and concentrate on his rookie season in the NFL.
The Rangers purchased Williams' contract for $100,000 on Dec. 15, 1998, from the Montreal Expos, who selected the outfielder from Philadelphia's Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster the previous afternoon during Major League Baseball's Rule Five draft.
Williams' contract remains the property of the Rangers, but under rules of the Rule Five draft, he must be offered back to the Phillies for $25,000. If the Phillies do not want to retain Williams' rights, he then would be placed on waivers.
In four minor-league seasons in the Phillies system, Williams hit .211 with four home runs and 40 RBI. In 12 games with Class A Batavia of the New York-Penn League, Williams hit .288, had a nine-game hitting streak and stole six bases in 53 at-bats.
4 minor league seasons: .211 with 4 HRs? I could do better then that! :D