Rangers trade Millwood to O's, agree with Harden

AP News | 2009-12-10 05:35:44

<div id="subtitle">Texas trades RHP Kevin Millwood to Baltimore, then reaches deal with Harden</div><div><p>The Texas Rangers traded pitcher Kevin Millwood and $3 million to Baltimore for reliever Chris Ray on Wednesday night, then reached a deal to add Rich Harden to their rotation.</p><p>Texas also got a player to be named from the Orioles in a swap where money was a major factor.</p><p>Millwood is owed $12 million next season in the final year of his contract, a salary he guaranteed himself by reaching 180 innings this year for Texas.</p><p>The Rangers had cash flow problems this year, with Major League Baseball stepping in to provide assistance, and owner Tom Hicks is trying to sell the team.</p><p>Boosted by its pitching, Texas stayed in playoff contention until late in the season. The last-place Orioles, meanwhile, went 64-98 in their 12th straight losing season.</p><p>Baltimore is counting on Millwood's help on and off the field.</p><p>"We're satisfied he's going to be just the kind of guy we need to show our young guys the way," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said.</p><p>"Not just the innings we think he's going to eat," he said, but "what it takes to be a successful major league pitcher."</p><p>The Rangers quickly filled Millwood's spot, reaching a preliminary agreement with Harden on a one-year contract that guarantees him $7.5 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet final.</p><p>Harden went 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA for the Chicago Cubs last season. The 28-year-old righty is 50-29 with a 3.39 ERA in seven major league seasons.</p><p>Harden, however, has been on the disabled list seven times. He asked the Cubs to shut him down late last season because of arm fatigue.</p><p>Millwood, meanwhile, has been one of baseball's most durable starters.</p><p>He was 13-10 with three complete games last season. His 3.67 ERA was eighth-best among AL starters — in fact, it was the lowest by a Texas pitcher who qualified for the ERA title since 1997.</p><p>Millwood turns 35 in two weeks and has made at least 25 starts in each of the last eight years. The right-hander was the Rangers' opening-day starter in all four years with the team.</p><p>An All-Star with Atlanta in 1999, Millwood led the AL in ERA with Cleveland in 2005. He is 155-121 with a 4.02 ERA in 13 seasons.</p><p>Ray, 28 next month, was 0-4 with a 7.27 ERA in 46 games. He was one of the Orioles' bright spots when he posted a career-high 33 saves in 2006, but needed Tommy John surgery on his right elbow the next year.</p><p>Ray made nine appearances on injury rehab in 2008 and last year was his first full season since the transplant surgery. He showed improvement in the second half with a 4.88 ERA in his final 26 games.</p><p>___</p><p>AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65138710&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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