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The Orioles picked up a veteran piece for their starting rotation at the Winter Meetings on Wednesday when they agreed to pick up Kevin Millwood from the Rangers in exchange for reliever Chris Ray. There's also some cash heading Baltimore's way, although the total hasn't been disclosed as yet. Adding an experienced starter makes a lot of sense for the Orioles. They've got three talented youngsters in Brad Bergesen, Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman, but young pitchers come with innings limits and assorted other potential land mines that keep them from throwing oodles of innings. Millwood threw just under 200 innings for the Rangers last season and should do a fine job of soaking up innings. Asking for much more than that would be greedy, however.
A quick look at Millwood's stats for 2009 will lead you to his 3.67 ERA and, perhaps, a feeling that he could help the O's make a surprising run at contention. Look deeper, though, and you'll find a pitcher who posted a 123/71 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a career-low strikeout rate and a home run rate higher than any he's posted since 2001. Millwood's got his uses, but there probably aren't a lot of hitters in Boston, New York or Tampa feeling too bad about Millwood coming to their backyard.
That said, they didn't give up too much. Ray has some experience as a closer and a power arm, but he wasn't going to make or break anything for the Orioles in 2010. He could be a useful addition to the Rangers pen, but given the money problems and looming ownership change in Arlington it's easy to see the real motivation for this deal on Texas's side.
Some of that money may be heading to Rich Harden. Ken Rosenthal of FOX is reporting that the Rangers are circling the erstwhile Cubs righty for a deal in the neighborhood of $7.5 million. While he's not as good a bet to eat as many innings as Millwood, Harden's got more upside and could prove to be a smart signing if he can somehow avoid the injury bug that's kept him sidelined so often in the past.
Speaking of money, it will be interesting to see how much money Millwood brings with him to Baltimore. The Sun reported on Wednesday morning that the Orioles would pick up the bulk of his $12 million contract, which is well beyond what Millwood would make on the open market.That makes it hard to see why you'd prefer him to signing Jon Garland, Harden or another free agent starter who would cost less for a similar contribution.
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