Angels Go a Bit Wild, Add Mitch Williams

Mitch Williams, the relief pitcher nicknamed “Wild Thing,” signed a one-year, $500,000 non-guaranteed contract with the Angels on Wednesday. Williams could earn as much as $2 million in incentives.

“We think he’s going to help our ballclub, but certainly a byproduct of signing Mitch Williams is that he has personality,” Angel President Richard Brown said.

Williams, who has had control problems throughout his career, is being brought to the Angels to be their left-handed setup man.

The Angels still are pursuing free agent Lee Smith or John Wetteland of Montreal to be their closer.

Williams led the National League with 43 saves for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993, but blew two saves during the National League playoffs and two more during the World Series against Toronto.

The Phillies traded him to Houston for reliever Doug Jones, and by May 31, the Astros released him.