Pirates close to bringing Casey home

12/06/2005
DALLAS -- The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are in the final stages of completing a deal that would send first baseman Sean Casey to the Bucs for left-handed starter Dave Williams.
The trade is contingent upon both players passing physicals, and neither team is expected to make an official announcement until Wednesday, at the earliest. However, Williams told MLB.com Tuesday night that Pirates GM Dave Littlefield contacted him about the imminent deal.
"He said thanks for all the hard work and we said our peace to each other," Williams said. "I'm waiting for the [Reds] GM to call."
The Pittsburgh native Casey, 31, did not want to discuss the details of the deal until after returning to Pittsburgh to complete his physical with the club. But he did express initial disappointment upon hearing his name included in trade rumors this winter.
"I want to retire with the Cincinnati Reds. I don't want to go anywhere," Casey said. " I love Cincinnati, the fans, the team and the charitable work that I do. If I have to go, and I hope I don't, Pittsburgh is the best place because that is where I was born and raised."
By adding Casey, the Pirates address their need for a left-handed run producer at first base to bat behind All-Star Jason Bay. A three-time National League All-Star, Casey has a .305 career batting average with 118 home runs and 605 RBIs in nine big-league seasons, eight of which he spent in Cincinnati.
Casey batted .324 with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs in 2004 but saw his power numbers fall off significantly last season after he sustained a left shoulder injury in May while diving for a foul ball. Casey was batting .312 with nine home runs and 58 RBIs when he suffered a season-ending concussion at PNC Park on Sept. 16 following a collision at first base with Pirates catcher Humberto Cota.
Most of Casey's experience at PNC Park has been considerably more enjoyable. In 29 games in front of his hometown fans, Casey has batted .355 with five home runs and 24 RBIs. He often said that the highlight of his big league career came when he took Todd Ritchie deep on April 9,2001 for the first hit in PNC Park history.
"I was so pumped up for that game," Casey recalled later. "Opening Day in my hometown. The beautiful new ballpark. My parents were there. My sister came in. My wife. My friends. Willie Stargell had just died. He was one of my heroes ...
"Until I play on a championship team, that will be hard to beat."
The Pirates have long coveted Casey, but financial concerns had previously stood in the way. However, with a payroll expected to be boosted by approximately $15 million to nearly $50 million in 2006, the team was able to absorb the $8.5 million Casey is set to earn next season in what will be the final year of his contract.
The addition of Casey, even if he is not signed beyond 2006, allows the Pirates to give powerful first base prospect Brad Eldred another year to improve his pitch selection, contact and defense at Triple-A. Eldred clubbed 40 home runs combined in the Minor Leagues and big leagues last season, but he also struck out 159 times in 469 at-bats.
The 26-year-old Williams, who was healthy for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2002, led the Pirates staff with 10 wins in 2005. After establishing career highs in wins, starts (25) and innings (138 2/3), Williams signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million in October.
"It's weird going to another team in our division," Williams said. "I'll work hard this offseason to be prepared and look forward to helping the Reds."
Williams made his big-league debut in 2001 and was one of the few bright spots for a Pirates team that lost 100 games. In 22 appearances, including 18 starts, he posted a 3-7 mark and a 3.71 ERA.
Williams attempted to pitch through shoulder stiffness the following spring before finally undergoing surgery to repair a torn left labrum on July 11, 2002. Williams spent the next two years rehabbing at Triple-A Nashville and did not pitch in the big leagues again until Aug. 5, 2004.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/