The Cubs officially signed first baseman Kevin Millar to a minor league deal today. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick first reported the agreement on Monday. The Cubs signed Chad Tracy last week, so Millar will compete with him for a backup job.
Millar, 38, hit .223/.311/.363 in 283 plate appearances for the Blue Jays last year.
Hahahahahahaha
I specifically came to this post, to post the exact same thing
That’s freakin’ hilarious. You two took the words right ou of my mouth!
Micah Hoffpauir’s offseason nightmare continues.
Agreed.
So now the Cubs have spent money to have Lee, Tracy, and now Millar in front of Hoffpauir. And people wonder how the Cubs lose?
Honestly, these aren’t bad signings. Tracy and Millar were signed to minor league contracts at very little money. It’s becoming apparent that they are concerned with getting a dependable lefty bat off the bench who can spell Derrek Lee on occassion (and heaven forbid he goes out for an extended period of time) — and it looks like they are far from convinced that Hoffpauir can be that guy. These are low risk, low dollar signings. They aren’t blocking any major league ready prospects. It appears that they’ll just compete with Hoffpauir for that one roster spot. I don’t understand why people would make a big deal out of the signings one way or the other.
You really telling me there isn’t a minor leaguer more capable at this age than kevin millar?
I wish the Sox would sign him to replace Jerry Remy as the color man for the TV broadcasts. Millar is hilarious.
Well, between Ryan Dempster and Kevin Millar, the Cubs are sure to lead the league in hillarity. I think the two are actually friends and had a very funny war of words a couple of years back. Unless St. Louis falls on their face this year, we’re going to need the comic relief.
What have the Cardinals done to improve themselves from last year? Holliday was already there.
They haven’t done much but they do have Holliday for a full year. The Cubs are improved but I don’t know if they’ve done enough to pass them. I do think they’ve done enough to put themselves in position to stay in the race and if they can get some good years from the holdovers and the Cards have some bad luck, there’s a chance. I want the Cubs to win as much anybody but in my opinion they’ll need a few things to bounce their way.
I just don’t see the Cardinals getting off to a record start, or getting repeat performances from people like Brendan Ryan. I also expect Ryan Ludwick to continue to descend back from his All-Star season of 2008. With Carpenter and Wainwright on the hill you always have a chance. Lohse, Penny, and (…) don’t really scare me, especially if (…) is Rich Hill. The back end of their bullpen is shaky. The Cardinals remind me a lot of the Astros of the past few years. Two big boppers in the middle in Pujols and Holliday (Lee and Burkman) and two good front end starters Carpenter and Wainwright (Oswalt, Rodriguez) with not much else going on. Their bench is… well, empty. I was worried about the Cardinals last year, not so much this year. I think this will be a very solid race between the two teams.
I agree that the Cards certainly aren’t some sort of juggernaut. Thankfully they have their share of question marks — though probably not as many as we do…still, it’s a long season and lots of things can happen. We’ll just have to wait and see. I am hoping that you are right and I’m wrong on this one!
There are also two other factors in the cards… Sign a huge contract, get lazy or sign a huge contract, try to hard. If Holi flounders he becomes like Sori wondering where to put him in the lineup. We will see.
Not Bad of a move for the Cubs. I don’t see him at all during the year with the Cubs unless an injury occurs. And most likely to help once September comes around.
Is there a washed-up players sale going on today?
Character guy. Good in the clubhouse. Can’t contribute much more than that.
Is he liked in the clubhouse? Millar was a scab in ’94 you know…
I wouldn’t sign him, but if I had to pick a MLB player to have a few drinks with, he would likely be the guy. Now he’s on my 2nd favorite team – not sure how that makes me feel. :O)
JM
I feel like I heard he retired earlier this offseason…. lmfao. grats Millar. Definitely on my list of stars along with Pat Burrell I’d love to get drunk with.
its lester beckett lackey or was that taken?
Lol in order of dominance, I’d agree. But no, becketts my favorite current pitcher due to his attitude. Like lackey for same reason. Tho Lester is quickly moving up in my book.
Isn’t this guy the last remnant of the player’s strike?
Mahay was a scab too.
Cowboy Up
Reminds me of Mike Redmond.
Great guy to have on the bench for character, levity, and leadership. Problem is, his lack of production won’t make it easy to find a spot on that bench not better filled by someone else.
I don’t think anything has made me more angry as a life-long Jays fan than watching Kevin Millar bat clean-up 15+ times last year. The guy clearly had compromising photos of Cito Gaston… Millar. Was. Awful. I don’t care how good his jokes are.
you must of been thrilled when he player 3rd base
I just don’t really understand this signing. I wish they would have signed a 2b type backup with the money they used for Millar and Tracy. Sucks because they could probably get Kennedy or Lopez at a reasonable price. Also whatever happened to signing a RH setup option?
According to MLB’s Adam McCalvy, Hendry said the Nady deal likely “rounds out our acquisitions for the winter.” We may get another minor league signing or two, but I wouldn’t expect much more than that. I’m amazed Hendry didn’t get a relief pitcher. He’s been talking about one all winter. It looks like he’ll stick with Guzman as the righty set-up option and fill in the back of the bullpen with one of their many young arms. Frankly I’m perfectly fine with that.
Gaub will be a bright spot if given an opportunity in that bullpen.
I’m a big fan of Gaub. I hope the Cubs didn’t put too much stock in his struggles in the fall league. He’s got good stuff for a lefty reliever– better than the guy they just gave 7 million to!
One of the Baseball America guys said he is the best left hander in the minor leagues.
I really want to believe that he will not make the 25 man opening day roster. If he does, we are in trouble.
Since it’s a minor league deal, no damage done.
So Hendry, will you please cut the crap and make a meaningful, productive move.
Ugghhh!!!! What a waste of money!!!!! First nady, then millar. This disgusts me, its getting harder & harder to be a cubs fan & defend these moves. What about the GAPING HOLE at 2b !!!!!!!! What about the lack of a set up BP arm!!!! This will be yet another long disappointing season and HOPEFULLY HENDRYS LAST!!!!!!!!!!
i can’t agree with you more, hendry has is making it very hard to even watch cubs baseball right now….and the 2B thing is becoming a on going nightmare i dont see why all the 1B players unless there gonna try to trade d. lee (which in my opinion would be the worst thing they could do to this team.) but why not try to get a 2B or a bullpen arm….or even a SS so they can move theriot to 2B….well at least we’ll have a comic relief with millar and dumpster when there 10 games under .500.
i think the logic with 2b is that they will give starlin castro every opportunity to make the team out of st and theriot moves over to second ,and if he doesn’t then mike and baker can be a stopgag until june/july when he will probably be ready and then they can move theriot over.
If Castro rakes in AAA he will get called up, but that guy more than likely needs 350-400 AAA ABs. Besides that, the Cubs have to find a suitor for either Fontenot, Baker, or Blanco to bring Castro up. Baker is the only one with options and he isn’t going to get sent down or traded at the expense of leaving Fontenot or Blanco on the big league roster.
Good call last years tense dugout probably induced a signing like this imo hendry is going out of his way to make sure everyone is more relaxed,if we learned anything about hendry is when he gets his mind set on a fix he does is to a point of over kill,much like he did last year when he decided to blow the roster up to add lefty bats to balance the line up.This really was a not needed signing already have 3 backups at first,but if he is going go over kill millar is a nice guy,if was going make a nothing signing rather he gambled on a bull pen hand.
Yeah – honestly, this signing isn’t any different from Jack Z getting Griffey and Mike Sweeney last season.
Being a fan of Micah Hoffpauir, I really have not liked the Chad Tracy or this signing. With Aramis Ramirez’s injuries you could kind of see the desire for a Tracy in the wings, but Millar makes no sense at all. Maybe there is something with Derrek Lee that we don’t know about? Quit signing washed up players to block the youth in the system!!
But Micah’s really not that young. He’s 30 and actually a couple of months older than Chad Tracy. He’s getting to the point that if he doesn’t beat out Tracy or Millar, the Cubs will have to let him go — or else it’s going to be him who will be blocking the youth in the system.
i agree and maybe this will push micah to come into spring training already in shape and on a hitting program. I dont know what his offseason program was las year but if he sees these signings as one less spot for him then he might step it up
What youth is there at first base? What youth is there at third base that is MLB ready?
He’s been “invited to camp” people. It’s not like there is a spot reserved for him on the roster. It’s a minor league deal so chances are it’s for around half a million. Just another piece to compete in spring training and another veteran guy to work with some of the youngsters during camp. If he doesn’t make the team, he’ll probably retire. Worst case scenario, Tracy and Hoff have awful springs and Millar is the back up 1st baseman. Derrick normally plays at least 150 games a year anyway. I have no problems if Millar or any of the other backups start 10 games next year. No biggie
He’s been “invited to camp” people. It’s not like they’re reserving a roster spot for him. The more competition in spring the better I say. Also, he’s getting a minor league contract, probably around half a million. No Biggie. If Tracy and Hoff have good springs, he won’t make the team, simple.
Agreed, the more competition the better. It really doesn’t make much sense though even if he has an outside shot at making the club, another rh bat???? The logjam at first makes me wonder though……
Sorry, first post didn’t show right away, summed it up with this one.
Yes, I can live with the Tracy deal. He gives us insurance if Aramis goes down. But Millar being 38, really doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Oh goody, we signed one of my most hated (non-Cub) players of the last ten years!
Curious why we didnt we take this money and give it to Jacque Jones for another go round instead though. Jones provides similar production with much better defense in positions we would be more likely to need with a little bit of speed. Millar is useless
Jacque Jones! Wow, I guess you really don’t like Millar! Still, I don’t see how he even makes the team. Right now the signing doesn’t bother me. You can always release him if he doesn’t show anything (which is likely). If he makes the team I’m sure I’ll feel differently. He wouldn’t even represent an upgrade over Hoffpauir, much less Tracy.
Yeah, I really hate him :)But seriously, last I heard Jones is begging for a job. Well, Jones hits extremely similar to Millar at this point but plays an actual position we might be able to use. Millar is restricted to 1B, something we have about 10 of.I know it is extremely unlikely he ever sniffs the roster, but that doesnt change the fact that we would have been better off with someone who plays a position we can conceivably use. Being limited to first, Millar will be so far down the depth chart it just becomes pointless. Its like they signed him for no other reason then to upset me, lol.
But it probably made Ryan Dempster happy! I’m still not sure what the Cubs want to do with their roster. You have to figure it’s the starting 8, plus Fontenot, Blanco, Nady, and Hill who are guaranteed jobs. That leaves either one or two spots depending on whether they carry 11 or 12 pitchers. That leaves 1 or 2 roster spots to be decided between centerfielders Fuld and, less likely, Aducci or Colvin and 1b/lefty bench bat types Hoffpauir, Tracy, and longshot Millar. If it’s two spots open, you have to figure they’ll take one from each category. I think if they just have one spot open they go with Fukudome as the backup CF and then choose from the lefty bats. What’s your take?
I wouldn’t let a Millar signing get you down. It’s unlikely he finds a spot. Jacque Jones…haha! He had his moments, but not even Hendry would revisit that mistake.
What if Kevin Millar tears it up this spring vs. mediocre pitching in the thin Arizona air? Surely Piniella won’t base his judgement solely on spring performance, will he?
He better not!
If he does, I might just go all Nancy Kerrigan on Kevin. That wont be good for anyone…
LOL…I trust you meant going for his kneecaps and not wailing “Whyyyyy!” I just read some encouraging news in that there is zero guaranteed money with Millar. That makes it even more of a longshot since they can cut him at no cost but will have to pay both him and Tracy money if he makes the team — since Tracy was guaranteed about 500K, I think. Then again, they probably wind up paying around $1M either way since Tracy gets that roster bonus that puts him at 950k if he makes the team. Ahh, crud…we may need you to apply the Gilooly solution after all! In all seriousness, I think Millar is here to provide token competition and get a few ABs in to, for lack of better phrasing, “showcase his skills” for other teams. I even buy the notion that Hendry brought him in because, in his mind, he felt he could loosen the atmosphere a bit this spring…they’re really going all out to blame Milton Bradley and clubhouse chemistry for last year’s debacle. Anyway, my first assumption was that it was a harmless signing (especially at no guaranteed money) since he has no realistic chance of making the team… and I’m sticking with it!
“In all seriousness, I think Millar is here to provide token competition and get a few ABs in to, for lack of better phrasing, “showcase his skills” for other teams. I even buy the notion that Hendry brought him in because, in his mind, he felt he could loosen the atmosphere a bit this spring…”
LOL! Maybe Hendry did bring him in for his juggling skills on a unicycle. ‘Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit from my hat’. The team goes from last year’s mess to players carrying around water seltzer bottles, skirt flowers and having lemon creme pie fights. Ha!
“What if Kevin Millar tears it up this spring vs. mediocre pitching in the thin Arizona air? Surely Piniella won’t base his judgement solely on spring performance, will he?”
I don’t think so. Lou has repeated what many say that spring training and September fool a lot of managers. Then again, Lou and Arizona has made roster spots coming out of spring for guys like Hoffpauir in the past. I still say Millar is a longshot at best.
Lou also doesn’t like out of shape players and based on recent pictures I’ve seen, he’s not going to like Millar very much!
LOL…about the juggling, water seltzer bottles, etc.! I hope this year’s Cubs don’t turn into a circus!
“LOL…I trust you meant going for his kneecaps and not wailing “Whyyyyy!””
Well, actually, I am pretty sure I would end up doing both when you put it that way. But yes, I guess I should have said “all Tanya Hardning on Millar” huh, lol
But on the guaranteed money/not paying him anything thing – wouldn’t that only apply if he is released? If we assigned him to the minors, we will be paying him that 500K from my understanding. And at that point, its pointless again. And if the idea behind it is solely moral, why not hire a stripper or prostitute to hang out in the clubhouse during spring training? Wouldnt cost 500K, take ore-season ABs away from players I would rather see getting them and those hired women would probably have as much of a chance of helping the Cubs on the field as Millar would. Oh well, I’ll just keep my led-pipe handy and hope for the best. 🙂
I think that stripper idea would make you a popular guy with most players. Maybe incorporate them in an incentive plan. Maybe for every non-strike that Vitters or Soriano takes they can remove one article of clothing… or for every strike Marmol does throw…for every time Theriot doesn’t make an out on the basepaths…
So basically you are suggesting incentives that make it almost impossible for the players to get her close off? That will probably frustrate them more then Bradley did.
I say the incentives should be something more along the lines of “dont screw up in three straight games and you get a sponge bath”. Its still unlikely anyone would be able to cash in, but at least it wouldnt counteract all the value of her being there in the first place. 😉
I’m trying to change specific behaviors here! 🙂
In all seriousness, nothing the Cubs can do will improve the mood more than the day they got rid of Bradley. We all know what a drag it is to work with a pain in the @#$.
“I’m trying to change specific behaviors here!”
So am I! I’m rewarding incompetence first, then offering incentives for limiting incompetence on top of that! You are removing the initial benefit of the stripper and offering incentives only upon ability they cant possibly provide. In essence, I am offering a trip to Disney Land with the added incentive of a snow-cone treat if they did their homework. Your offer comes off more like giving them a lottery ticket 🙂
By the way, “get her close off?”. “Close” off? What the heck happened there? Apparently the mere thought of a naked woman shuts my brain off these days. I better not go to a porn site, my heart might stop beating…
America’s Favorite Scab keeps on riding the “veteran leadership” and “clubhouse presence” to contracts. His agent must be one hell of a salesman.
I don’t think he can make the Cubs Cowboy Up and be a bunch of Idiots. We’ll see though.