Saturday, June 12, 1999
Williams’ contract
talks with Giants
bog down
The Waipahu star's
By Pat Bigold
mother still expects
her son will sign
Star-BulletinHawaii's top selection in the June 2-3 baseball amateur draft remains unsigned this weekend.
Jerome Williams, a 6-foot-3, 187-pound Waipahu right-hander drafted 39th overall by the San Francisco Giants, entered talks with the club early this week.
Giants scout Darren Wittke, who did the legwork in researching Williams for the draft, flew in Monday afternoon to talk with the family. But he left Thursday morning without Williams's signature.
Wittke said by phone from California yesterday he does not know when negotiations will resume, but he indicated someone else will be representing the club in future talks with Williams.
Williams's mother, Deborah Williams, said that the major issue is not money at this point. She said it has more to do with terms she would not discuss.
She did say though that she expects her son to eventually sign.
Williams has said he has no plans for college.
The Williams family had originally been advised by sports agent Dave Roberts, who recently negotiated a bonus in the six-figure range for the Los Angeles Dodgers' sixth-round pick, Shane Victorino of Maui.
But Deborah Williams said Thursday that Reggie Waller of Global Sports Consultants (Huntington Beach, Calif.), has replaced Roberts at the table. She did not give a reason for the change.
