Texas Deals Staff Ace Kevin Millwood To Baltimore For What Amounts To A Bag Of Balls And Some Sunflower Seeds

Ownership uncertainty has resulted in yet another casuality from Texas' suprise 2009 season. The Texas Rangers have reportedly agreed to trade veteran starting pitcher Kevin Millwood and $3 million to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Chris Ray. The deal is contingent on both clubs seeing medical records of the players involved.

The trade gives the Rangers more financial flexibility -- $8 million when you factor in the close to $1 million that Ray would probably make -- to sign another veteran starting pitcher. The club has high interest in Rich Harden, who is coming off an injury and would be willing to take a one-year deal to show that he's healthy.

The Rangers are also looking for a right-handed bat, a catcher, a utility infielder and relievers to bolster the bullpen. And they came to the winter meetings with about $5 million to spend, so this deal gives them a better chance to fill more holes on a team that club officials expect to be contenders in the American League West in 2010.



Millwood, who turns 35 later this month, earned that vested option after pitching more than 180 innings in 2009. He was 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA in 198 2/3 innings pitched. He did have lower back and gluteus muscle soreness in September but returned to finish the season.

The Rangers signed Millwood to a five-year, $60 million deal before the 2006 season to front their rotation. He won 48 games in four seasons with Texas with a 4.82 ERA, but pitched over 200 innings just once. Millwood had his most wins with Texas in 2006 with 16, and his best ERA came last season at 3.67 (to go along with 13 wins).

Ray was a former closer for the Orioles before surgery to repair ligament damage in his right elbow set him back. He was 0-4 with a 7.27 ERA in 46 appearances in 2009. Ray, 27, has 49 career saves for the Orioles. Ray's best season was 2006, when he sported a 2.73 ERA and had 33 saves.