The Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Mitch Williams have reached agreement on a three-year, $9.2 million contract, making the reliever the club's highest-paid player over the length of the contract, general manager Lee Thomas said yesterday.

Williams, 27, was 12-5 with a 2.34 ERA for 69 games last season. He saved 30 games, the second-highest total in Phillies history.

Williams, a free agent, had sought a four-year contract.

* The Major League Umpires Association and Cincinnati manager Lou Piniella settled a libel suit filed last summer on behalf of National League umpire Gary Darling.

The terms of the settlement were not released under a confidentiality agreement between the parties. Piniella, who on Aug. 3 harshly criticized Darling, issued a statement backing the umpires.

* METS: The club, which had been considering several free-agent infielders, has targeted Willie Randolph, 37, as its top choice.

Manager Jeff Torborg said he's considering using Bill Pecota at third and Randolph at second against left-handers and shifting Pecota to second and using Dave Magadan or Chris Donnels at third against right-handers.