Camden Chat: Millwood Trade Is Nothing To Get Excited About

SB Nation’s Orioles blog Camden Chat has initial reaction to the trade that sends young reliever Chris Ray to the Rangers in exchange for starting pitcher Kevin Millwood:

I went on record just over a week ago with my belief that Kevin Millwood would be a bad pickup for the Orioles. I’m still not super excited about it, but the fact is that Chris Ray is hardly worth getting upset over. It’s clear the Rangers needed to dump salary and this is how they chose to do so. It’s clear the Orioles wanted to pick up a veteran starter and this his how they chose to do so.

In 2009 the Orioles desperately needed a pitcher who could pitch deep into games, and it’s likely Millwood will give them that in 2010. In 31 starts in 2009, Millwood went at least 5 innings in all but two starts, one of which was due to a rain delay. He pitched at least 6 innings in 23 of his starts. In his 13 year career Millwood has averaged 178 innings/year and has that includes his rookie year in 1997 when he threw 51 innings over 12 starts. For his career he averages 6.133 innings/game.

I don’t hate this deal. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it. Best case scenario is that Millwood gives the Orioles more than 6 innings/start and is flipped for a few extra players after Jake Arrieta has established that he’s ready to join the rotation. Mid-case he’s with the O’s all year, provides stability, and gives the bullpen a break. Worst case is that his 35 year old body will start to break down and the O’s will have spent a load of cash on nothing.