Todd

Williams

The veteran reliever requested the move. He had a 3.03 ERA and nine saves this season.

Nice to see. The 34-year-old Williams had 222 saves in the minors, 160 of them coming in Triple-A. He hasn’t been especially effective since an excellent April, amassing a 4.34 ERA and a 20/19 K/BB ratio in 47 2/3 IP, but he’s doing enough to keep his roster spot.

No one was injured in the three-vehicle crash, and Williams was released on $500 bond. A Breathalyzer test showed Williams’ blood alcohol content was zero percent, but he was charged with DUI with property damage. Officers at the scene “detected the odor of alcohol, some slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes,” police spokesman Joe Durkin said. Williams, who failed a field sobriety test, admitted to officers that he had had a couple drinks, and later told them he had taken a prescription painkiller.

Unless the Orioles trade Jorge Julio or cut Jay Witasick, Williams, who is out of options, will probably be placed on waivers later this week. A team like the Rangers or Mets may want him as a seventh reliever.

Williams was unavailable Thursday after taking a liner off the back of his pitching arm on Wednesday.

''It feels all right now,’' Williams said. ''But obviously, it’s going to be sore. It feels like you know it’s going to be sore but right now it’s fine.’'

Manager Lee Mazzilli said he hopes to have Williams available out of the bullpen today.

Williams pitched well for a couple of weeks, but he gave up five runs in his last three appearances and the Orioles wanted to mix things up. Overall, he had a 7.53 ERA in 14 1/3 innings.

“We’re thinking about doing that,” manager Sam Perlozzo said. “It’s all a matter of how he feels each day. The Orioles want to stretch out Williams so he can go more than one inning, but they’re also being careful after he experienced some arm soreness last month.

Williams wouldn’t discuss the allegations with George Mitchell’s committee. The 36-year-old reliever is currently a free agent.