The New York Mets today acquired lefthanded pitcher Dave Williams from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league righthanded pitcher Robert Manuel. Williams, 27, was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds in the off-season from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Sean Casey and cash. In eight starts with Cincinnati this season, Williams was 2-3 with a 7.20 ERA. In 40.0 innings, he allowed 54 hits, 34 runs, 32 earned, with 16 walks and 16 strikeouts. On May 20th, in his fifth season in the majors, Williams was designated for assignment. In 2005 with Pittsburgh, Williams established career-highs in every statistical category, compiling a 10-11 record with a 4.25 ERA in 25 starts. In 138.2 innings, he permitted 137 hits, 74 runs, 68 earned, with 58 walks and 88 strikeouts. Dave led the Pirates staff in wins, and was one of 12 National League lefthanders to collect 10 victories. He accumulated the third-best road ERA in the NL at 2.65, and Pittsburgh went 13-12 in his starts. Williams missed the final month of the season with a strained ribcage muscle. Williams was named to the AAA All-Star Game in 2004 after going 6-2 with a 3.47 ERA (45 earned runs in 116.2 innings) in 21 starts for Nashville. He was recalled by the Pirates on August 2nd, and went 2-3 with a 4.42 ERA (19 earned runs in 38.2 innings) in ten appearances, six starts. In 2002, Williams was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on May 28th, and on July 11th, had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He missed the first half of the 2003 season recovering from the surgery. Williams was selected by Pittsburgh in the 17th round of the June1998 first-year player draft. In six seasons in the minor leagues, Dave put together a 40-23 record with a 3.28 ERA (217 earned runs/596.1 innings) in 112 games, 91 starts. In 74 major league appearances (66 starts) with the Pirates and Reds, he has a 19-29 record with a 4.56 ERA. Williams has surrendered 360 hits, 208 runs, 190 earned, with 156 walks and 227 strikeouts in 374.2 innings of work. Manuel, 22, was signed by New York as a non-drafted free agent on June 17, 2005. He went 8-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 12 games (five starts) for the Gulf Coast Mets ® in 2005. In 56.2 innings, he allowed 55 hits, 19 runs, 13 earned, with four walks and 49 strikeouts. Manuel tied for the Gulf Coast League lead in wins, was second in ERA, and fourth in strikeouts. Robert also appeared in two contests for the Brooklyn Cyclones (A) of the New York - Penn League, going 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He pitched 5.0 innings in two relief appearances, permitting five hits, one run, earned, with five strikeouts.