Mariners To Sign Kevin Millwood
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/mariners-to-sign-kevin-millwood.html
By Steve Adams [January 22, 2012 at 4:50pm CST]
The Mariners have agreed to sign Kevin Millwood, according to a report by
Richard Walker of Millwood's hometown newspaper, the Gaston Gazette. Walker
credits Millwood's sister for breaking the news on her Facebook page over the
weekend. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports confirms the move and adds that it's a
minor league deal (Twitter links).
Millwood, who turned 37 recently, pitched 54 1/3 innings of 3.98 ERA ball for
the Rockies in 2011, with a 6.0 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 with a 42.2% groundball
rate. He reportedly declined a $1MM contract offer from the Rockies prior to
the Winter Meetings in hopes of securing a $3MM guarantee.
Millwood signed a five-year, $60MM contract with the Rangers prior to the
2006 season, and has spent exactly 1,000 innings since that date calling a
hitter-friendly ballpark his home (he also pitched at Camden Yards for the
Orioles and Coors Field last season). A pitchers' haven like Safeco Field in
Seattle will likely benefit the veteran right-hander in 2012.
Millwood, who is represented by Scott Boras, will provide depth in a Mariners
rotation that lost Michael Pineda in the Jesus Montero trade. Felix
Hernandez, Jason Vargas, and Hisashi Iwakuma figure to be locks for the
rotation, while Millwood, Hector Noesi, Blake Beavan, and Charlie Furbush are
also candidates. Heyman feels that Millwood has a "good chance" to make the
team, and notes that he played for manager Eric Wedge and pitching coach Carl
Willis during his Cleveland days.