Giants Trade Matt Williams To Cleveland

Just in case Albert Belle leaves the Indians, Cleveland got some power replacement Wednesday.

Cleveland, worried that Belle may sign with Florida or another team, acquired Matt Williams from the San Francisco Giants for reliever Julian Tavarez and infielders Jeff Kent and Jose Vizcaino.

“I guess I’ve got mixed emotions. I’ve been a Giant my whole career. I’ve grown accustomed to being a Giant,” Williams said. “Often times it’s just part of the business. I respect the Giants for all that they’ve given to me. They gave me a lot of chances to succeed.”

Williams has missed large portions of the last two seasons with injuries.

“We did not want to be left behind while Albert entertained other offers,” Indians general manager John Hart said.

Belle and other free agents can start talking money with other teams on Friday.

Deal nears collapse

Acting commissioner Bud Selig took no steps to save baseball’s labor deal, leaving interleague play and revenue sharing one day from collapse.

“If the deal is not made, you’re in permanent limbo,” said union head Donald Fehr.

After Monday’s meeting, Selig told Fehr he would ponder his options and get back to him. The only contact since then has been a telephone conversation late Tuesday night that lasted about 1 minute.

M’s stadium costs under control

Taxes approved by the Legislature and Metropolitan King County Council should be more than enough to pay for a new baseball stadium, even though the stadium’s cost has gone up, members of the board overseeing the project say.

Public Facilities District board member Shelly Yapp tried to assure council members the stadium can be built without putting county finances at risk.

Around the major leagues

Pitcher Juan Guzman and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $9.5 million, two-year contract… . Infielder Alvaro Espinoza and the New York Mets agreed to a $410,000, one-year contract, a cut of $15,000… . Pitcher Gil Heredia, a free agent signee whom the Texas Rangers hoped would shore up their middle relief but instead proved unreliable, was put on unconditional waivers… . Second baseman Delino DeShields, who never lived up to expectations in his three-year stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreed to a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.