A Wild Day in Baseball : Transactions: Phillies deal Williams to Astros, and Indians sign Murray and Martinez.

Convinced that the Philadelphia environment would prove too hostile for Mitch Williams after his World Series failures, the Phillies traded the “Wild Thing” to the Houston Astros on Thursday for veteran reliever Doug Jones and 22-year-old pitching prospect Jeff Juden.

In another significant development, the Cleveland Indians, preparing to move to a new stadium next year and looking at what should be a wide open race in the American League’s Central Division, signed Eddie Murray to further bolster a productive offense and Dennis Martinez as a veteran anchor for a suspect pitching rotation.

Williams set a Phillie record with 43 saves in 65 appearances, but his often erratic performances reached a new level in the postseason, particularly the World Series, when he pitched in three games, giving up six runs, five hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings.

He took the brunt of a six-run rally by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning of a 15-14 loss in Game 4 and gave up a three-run homer to Joe Carter in the ninth inning of Game 6 as the Blue Jays rallied for an 8-6 victory that wrapped up the Series.

Williams received death threats even before the final game, and his New Jersey home was vandalized in the aftermath of the Series, prompting the 29-year-old left-hander to go directly to his ranch in central Texas after Game 6 in Toronto.

“Mitch did a great job in his three seasons with us, but I felt this was in his and the team’s best interest,” Phillie General Manager Lee Thomas said. “I think he’ll do well in Houston, but I also think he would have had a difficult time coming back to Philadelphia.”

Citing negative fan reaction, center fielder Lenny Dykstra put it another way, telling the Associated Press, “I love the guy . . . (but) to bring him back would be just too much to ask of Mitch and the Phillies. It would be unfair to put that kind of pressure on him, and on his teammates.”

Williams, who broke into the major leagues with the Texas Rangers, said he was happy to be back with a Texas team but didn’t like the idea of the Phillies deciding what was best for him by suggesting he wouldn’t have been able to handle the fans or the pressure.

“They’re wrong about that,” he said. “But I have no problem moving on.”

Bob Watson, the Astros’ new general manager, said the bottom line on Williams was his 43 saves. “We wanted a left-handed closer who could get the job done,” Watson said, adding that he was impressed by the way Williams stood up during his postseason tribulations.

“He didn’t run and hide. He didn’t back down,” Watson said. “He always takes the ball. Our concessionaires will love him. No one will leave the park early.

“(Manager) Terry Collins and myself will just have to invest in some Maalox and Grecian Formula.”

Thomas said the trade was the first step in reshaping the Phillie bullpen and that Jones represented a veteran closer and off-speed specialist who will be working with an off-speed expert in pitching coach Johnny Podres.

After his 1991 release by the Indians, Jones, 36, revived his career with the Astros in 1992, going 11-8 with 36 saves in 80 appearances. He fell off last year, however, and was 4-10 with a 4.54 earned-run average and 26 saves in 71 games.

Thomas said he would not have made the trade if Juden had not been included, calling him a legitimate prospect, though he was only a fringe candidate for the Astros’ rotation. Juden was 11-6 at triple-A Tucson and 0-1 in two games with Houston last year.

Cleveland General Manager John Hart said the rebuilding of the Indians had reached a point where it was time to inject free agency.

“It’s a tribute to where we’re at that we can offer contracts to proven veterans like Dennis Martinez and Eddie Murray and have them accept,” he said. “It’s a statement that we’re ready to win.”

Martinez, 38, was 15-9 with the Expos, pitching 220 or more innings for the sixth consecutive season. Cleveland signed him to a two-year, $9-million contract with an option for 1996 at $4.25 million.

Murray, 37, had another good season amid the New York Mets’ misery. He batted .285 with 27 homers and 100 runs batted in. He will get $3 million in 1994 and can earn $3 million more in ’95 if he appears in 145 games or has 550 plate appearances next season. Murray gives the Indians a switch-hitting designated hitter to bat behind Albert Belle.

The Baltimore Orioles, who had been talking to Murray and may now pursue Rafael Palmeiro, re-signed free agent designated hitter Harold Baines for $1.8 million and reserve infielder Tim Hulett for $500,000. The Orioles also announced that third baseman Mike Pagliarulo has elected to play in Japan next year.

The Florida Marlins, who had hoped to sign Martinez, re-signed 45-year-old Charlie Hough (9-16) for one year at $1 million.