Woody Williams Gets Released by the Astros, Plans to Retire

When the Houston Astros signed Woody Williams to a 2-year contract before last season for around $6 million per year, there weren't many people that thought it was a good idea. After a disastrous season in which Williams put up an ERA of over 5.00 and gave up 35 homers (the most he's allowed since 2001) followed by a very poor spring training (11.32 ERA this spring), even the Astros are regretting the move. Today, they released Williams and Williams followed up that news by announcing his retirement. From the Dallas Morning News:

"This is the first day of the rest of my life without playing, without baseball," Williams told Houston television station KRIV. "I signed with the Astros with the plan to finish my career here. I am not going anywhere else."

If Williams is indeed done, and at the age of 41 he probably is, then he's done after a 15- year career with 2200 career big-league innings and a record of 132-116. Perhaps most impressively, he'll have made $56 million over his career after the Astros pay him his $6 million for this year. Not too bad for a guy with a career ERA+ of 102, which is only slightly above league average.

Via BBTF