One of the few notable names left on the starting pitching market, Kevin Millwood still appears to be seeking a Major League contract. The veteran right-hander recently turned down a minor league offer from the Yankees, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. According to Sherman, the deal was structured similarly to the one Freddy Garcia signed with the club.
Despite their ongoing need for help at the back of the rotation, the Yankees are "adamant" about not guaranteeing Millwood big league money to compete for a starting pitching job. If the righty were to sign a minor league deal, he would have to beat out New York's other in-house options to earn a roster spot.
Considering most teams have figured out their rotations by now, there may not be a Major League offer out there for the 36-year-old. While it's never safe to underestimate Scott Boras, Millwood doesn't seem to have many suitors, with the Yankees and Indians among the few teams linked to him in recent weeks. When we asked you last weekend for predictions on Millwood's landing spot, those two clubs combined to earn about 70% of over 6,800 votes.
I would like to see him back in Baltimore for another year. With the improved offense I think he could help.
I think if I were Cashman I would offer a major league deal that was very heavily incentive-laden. Like $700K base with $1M if he pitches 190 innings?
Didn’t you say “very heavily incentive-laden”?
300K is heavy incentive???
Yeah, $1.7M total if he pitches 190 innings. Worst case they risk $700K for him to compete for a starting spot. Sadly he probably would win the job.
That still doesn’t explain how it’s “very heavily incentive-laden” Very heavily incentive-laden would be a contract like Brandon Webb has. He can earn up to 6-7M in incentives.
Really? $1.7M total achievable and $1M of it is incentive based and you can’t understand how it is heavily incentive-laden? 59% of the total compensation would be based on innings pitched, which would necessitate him winning the starting job and making 27-30 starts.
I don’t see how 1M is a lot of money in incentives. If you want to go by percentages, fine. What I consider heavily incentive-laden and what you consider heavily incentive-laden are two separate things.
Yes we do. You want to pay a guy whose only other option seems to be a minor league deal $6-7M and I want to pay him potentially $1.7M.
I’m not saying pay him 6-7M. That’s what I took from the way you said heavily incentive laden. I see that as many M’s as opposed to 1M.
heavily laden with incentives, not laden with heavy incentives
$1 million is probably less than he just rejected in the minor league deal.
Doubtful, but a major league deal with incentives would be guaranteed money and the chance to be on a contender.
I would say it’s almost certain. A minor league deal is going to include a base salary if he makes the major league team. As a comparison, the Pirates gave a similar deal to what you are suggestion to Jose Veras. Minor league deal with a $1 million base salary if he makes the team, plus an extra $500K in incentives.
That’s for Jose Veras. On the Pirates. No way Millwood is taking that deal from the Yankees.
Then I stand possibly corrected. Up the amounts then, but my premise is offer Millwood a major league deal with a low amount guaranteed and a bigger amount in innings pitched incentives.
Why would he take it? He’ll get a major league deal with Cleveland.
If it was that clear cut, why hasn’t he signed it yet?
religious beliefs?
Would you want to sign with Cleveland?
Yes, for the league minimum. I’m not greedy.
Yeah, I would.
Considering whats going on in the bronx, you would think Millwood could see that the potential to pitch in the majors for a contender this year is pretty good.
Of course pitching meaningless games by June for one of the dregs of the league might be more to his liking.
He can always pitch in Japan
if he wants a major league contract he might as well wait. you know there are going to be multiple pitchers on many different teams get injured or not produce during the season. when that happens and Millwood is still available he can have a better chance at selecting what he wants.
can’t really blame him for rejecting the Yankees offer. he would have to compete with multiple other pitchers for the rotation with nothing guaranteed.
the only way I could have seen him accept a Yankees minor league offer is that if he wasn’t on the team at a certain point that he could be released from that contract.
personally as someone who does not like the Yankees I’d love to see Millwood on the team, because he’s not that good.
His best bet is to get a job while he can, whether it’s on a minor or major league deal. He’ll end up distancing himself further from the game like Jarrod Washburn did if he just waits around for an injury.
Kevin Millwood is a major league pitcher people. He would be a solid fifth starter on most any club.
Millwood is a major league pitcher, but that’s about it. He couldn’t pitch as a solid fifth starter for the Phillies, Red Sox, Braves, Marlins, Padres, Giants, Rays, A’s, Brewers… well you get my point. I would venture to say that he could not beat out Nova, Mitre or Garcia for the forth or fifth spot on the Yankees this spring. At best he could compete evenly with Colon.
Just take a look at his numbers and you’ll see that the guy was just plain awful.
Even his peripherals don’t support him as anything more than a bad pitcher.
As you state, he is a major leaguer and should look for a MLB deal, but he won’t get one with a good team. As a Yankees fan I’m happy he rejected the their offer.
Ideally, Millwood should pitch in the National League. The only reason his market value is so low right now is because he was absolutely mashed in the AL East and he played on a team that gave him little run support.
Milwood wouldn’t turn down a minor league deal with the Yankees unless he (and Boras) were fairly certain (like 99%) that there was another team willing to give him a major league deal, or they knew that if they held out the Yanks would give him a big league deal, or a BETTER minor league deal. My guess is the deal itself wasn’t appealing, as Milwood would make the rotation for the Yankees no questions asked unless he got hurt.
Millwood has a 5 + ERA last year.I think the fact that Cashman didn’t offer a mlb deal that he feels their rookies like Phelps, Noesi or Mitchell could be just as good (or bad) of a job without sucking up another roster spot.
Perhaps the ONLY good part of signing Milwood is that you can toss him to the lions and cut him loose if he fails.
How hard is Millwood throwing this days?
mid 70s with good movement
yeah @ mid 70s his FB has lot’s of movement. Unfortunately, it’s moving at about 100 mph being sent the other way headed towards the OF fence.
Wow, Millwood. You turned down an offer from the Yankees when there’s no else bidding, knowing that you have the most likely chance of being in the majors for NYY if two of Nova, Colon, and/or Garcia falter.
Good luck finding another major league job with your 88-mph fastball.
Velocity isn’t everything to pitching. You can be successfull with an 88 MPH fastball if you know how to mix speeds and have movement.
Calling Jamie Moyer!
Calling Greg Maddux
Aren’t the Indians eye balling him as well?
Boras is making Kevin Millwood to be this year’s version of Johnny Damon by seriously misjudging the market.
Kevin Millwood = Paul Byrd that just didn’t decide to skip a season… Remember, Byrd had offers last year also, but chose to retire only because they were for not enough and Millwood may end up the same way. A guy who can’t throw hard enough to get by, relies of “trickery” and movement of pitches to get by for 5-6 innings nowadays. Definition of a back of the rotation starter on a sub .500 team and not someone like the Yankees need.
Good job Cashman not offering this guy a MLB deal, as much as would have loved to seen his carcass rolled out there every 5th day for BP in the AL east.
cant handle competition? – yankees dont need him then — how stupid is he?
Well considering he’s earned in excess of $88 million in his career, he’s probably not all that stupid.
The Padres could easily offer a starting gig for Kevin Millwood. I could still see that happening.
Mat Latos
Clayton Richard
Tim Stauffer
Aaron Harang
Corey Luebke
Wade LeBlanc
Don’t see a fit here.
well, you could also add Dustin Moseley and Simon Castro. They could still use a veteran pitcher to eat up innings. I would rather Lubeke start in AAA. I believe Moseley will be better utilized as long relief. Castro has the stuff, but will probably spend at least half the year in AAA. Aaron Harang was run into the ground by the Reds, so I am a little concerned about him throughout the entire season. Wade LeBlanc scares me, look at the kids home/road splits. Away from Petco, (like many) they are very alarming. Wade has absolutely no margin for error. The “fit” would be pretty obvious, it would be another established pitcher to start the season, another rebound pitcher who, (if in not mistaken) could also have a chance like many of the other current Padres at obtaining compensation picks. Allow our young pitchers to season, then see what happens with their pitching depth after a couple months. There is always injuries! Millwood said he would “love to pitch in Petco park”. That is why I believe he could be had for very cheap. Remember, LeBlanc lost his starting role last year. Luebke is very inexperienced, mind you I like him a lot. I actually think it could be a perfect “fit”.
First Cliff Lee, then Andy Pettitte, now Kevin Millwood turning his back on the Yanks! Doesn’t anyone want to pitch in New York?
I’m sure judging by your name I’m taking bait here, but, well, I like doing it anyway.
Pettitte didn’t want to pitch anywhere and Millwood doesn’t want to pitch for Scranton, he actually wants to pitch for NY, hence the problem.
As for Lee, yes, mark it down. It’s the first time the Yankees viciously pursued someone and he turned them down, albeit for a higher annual salary in a lower taxed state.
Maddux back in like 92 or 93 did it.