Williams Is Back; This Time It’s Seattle : Former Padre Boss Says Deal With Mariners Is His Best-Ever Contract

Dick Williams will be named manager of the Seattle Mariners today, he told The Times on Thursday night in an interview at his home here.

He will replace Chuck Cottier, who was fired Thursday.

Williams, who resigned as San Diego Padres’ manager the first day of spring training, said he has an oral agreement to manage the Mariners through 1988.

Williams said he was first contacted by George Argyros, the Seattle owner, and Chuck Armstrong, the club president, last week when Williams was doing promotional work for a beer company in Orlando, Fla.

On Tuesday, Williams appeared at a charity banquet in Detroit, then on Wednesday was met by Argyros and Armstrong at a stopover in Denver. Thursday morning, Argyros made an offer and Williams accepted, Williams said.

“Seattle kept after me and presented something I liked very much,” Williams said. “By that, I mean I like my contract and the thoughts they presented. . . . I didn’t want a five-year contract. I’ve signed for the rest of this year and two more years, plus an option year at their option. It’s a good contract, the best I’ve ever had.”

Before the 1982 season, Williams was signed to a three-year contract to replace Frank Howard as manager of the Padres. Williams had his contract extended through 1986 season early in the 1983 season.

During the past off-season, Padre President Ballard Smith and General Manager Jack McKeon attempted to fire Williams without the knowledge of owner Joan Kroc. However, Kroc stepped in and said Williams would manage the team this season.

On the first day of spring training, Williams and Kroc held a hastily called news conference to announce that Williams was resigning. Third base coach Ozzie Virgil, who resigned from the Padres along with Williams, will coach third for the Mariners, Williams said.

Since leaving the Padres, Williams has refused to answer questions concerning San Diego.

“The only thing I know is they never won before I got here, and let’s see what they do now,” Williams said. “I really don’t care. I have stayed in contact with Joan (Kroc). I haven’t talked to the other people.”

Williams, who turned 57 on Wednesday, resigned once previously as a manager, that coming after he led Oakland to the 1973 World Series championship. He stepped down in protest after owner Charlie Finley attempted to remove Mike Andrews from the roster for having a bad game.

In 1974, Williams wanted to manage the Yankees but was prohibited by Finley because he was still under contract to the A’s. Though Williams also resigned from the Padres, he said there is a “difference” that makes it possible for him to manage Seattle without compensation to San Diego. (The difference is believed to be that Williams was paid off by the Padres, but he would not comment when asked whether he was given a financial settlement.)

Midway through the 1974 season, Finley agreed to let Williams manage the Angels. Williams remained until being fired midway through 1976.

During Williams’ first season as a major league manager, he led Boston to the World Series a year after the Red Sox had finished ninth in the 10-team American League. He was fired by Boston after 1969 then resurfaced in Oakland in 1971, where he led the A’s to three consecutive division championships and two World Series titles.

After leaving the Angels, Williams managed Montreal from 1977 until September 1981. His career record is 1,412-1,259.

In recent weeks, there had been speculation that Williams might replace Tony LaRussa as manager of the Chicago White Sox.

“There has been a lot of talk out of Chicago,” Williams said. “I didn’t contact them, and they didn’t contact me. Evidently, they’re going to do something.”

Williams kept busy during his short-lived retirement. He said he has played numerous rounds of golf, driven down the coast of Mexico, went skiing, visited grandchildren and did promotional work for a beer company.

After playing in the pro-am of a women’s golf tournament last month, Williams refused to discuss baseball. He said if he got a job offer, he would discuss it with his family.

“If Dick’s happy, I’m happy,” said his wife, Norma. “We always talk these things over. I don’t know where the press ever got the idea I wanted Dick to quit. I never asked him to quit. . . . He was getting under my feet a little bit here, but I’ve gotten used to it.”

As a manager, Williams has gained a reputation for getting under the skin of some of his players. He often has criticized players to the press, hoping they would get mad and take it out on the opposition.

“I’ve always said I’ll be firm but fair,” Williams said. “If a player doesn’t think I’m fair, I can’t help it if he’s hitting .210.”

Cottier, who joined Seattle as a coach in 1982, was hired as interim manager the final month of 1984 after Del Crandall was fired. Cottier had a 98-119 record with the Mariners, who are sixth in the American League West.