Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Millwood, Rangers agree to terms

Associated Press

Free agent pitcher Kevin Millwood reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $60 million, five-year contract with Texas, giving the Rangers the legitimate No. 1 starter they have been seeking.

Texas can void the fifth year of the deal if Millwood doesn’t pitch a certain number of innings in earlier years of the contract. Millwood is expected to undergo a physical today in Texas, and the deal likely will be finalized Wednesday.

Details of the deal were disclosed by two people familiar with negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. Millwood’s decision to accept Texas’ offer was first reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on its Web site.

Millwood was 9-11 with a 2.86 ERA that led the American League this year, his only season for Cleveland. The right-hander, who turned 31 Saturday, rejected a salary arbitration offer from the Indians.

Millwood, who also was sought by Boston, will be the No. 1 starter in a revamped Texas rotation, already bolstered by two trades this month. The Rangers got former All-Star right-hander Vicente Padilla from Philadelphia and acquired Adam Eaton from San Diego.

Indians sign Johnson to one-year deal

Free agent pitcher Jason Johnson agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians, just hours before Kevin Millwood agreed to join the Texas Rangers.

Johnson went 8-13 with a 4.55 ERA in a career-high 210 innings last season for Detroit. The 32-year-old right-hander could earn as much as $11.5 million over two years in a deal that includes a mutual option for 2007.

Johnson and Paul Byrd, signed by the Indians this month, join C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Jake Westbrook in one of the A.L.’s deepest rotations. The newcomers will try to replace Scott Elarton, who signed with Kansas City, and Millwood.

With Millwood pricing himself out of Cleveland and general manager Mark Shapiro not wanting to complete the rotation with a young pitcher, the Indians turned to the 6-foot-6 Johnson, who has made at least 32 starts in four of the past five seasons. His contract includes a club option for 2007.

Johnson is 52-86 during his nine-year career, which has also included stints with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Baltimore. He has never experienced a winning season in his career.

Blue Jays hope to announce Glaus arrival

The Toronto Blue Jays hope to announce this week that they have acquired slugger Troy Glaus from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Glaus and a prospect are expected to be sent to Toronto for reliever Miguel Batista and Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson. Glaus led Arizona in homers (37) and RBIs (97) last year, playing in 149 games despite occasional flare-ups of a strained tendon in the back of his left knee.