The Baltimore Orioles made a strong move to solidify their starting rotation, and get a mentor for the young arms in their organization. In return for Kevin Millwood, the Orioles sent the Texas Rangers reliever Chris Ray, and a player to be named later. The sweetest part of this deal is Texas is sending cash to Baltimore to off set some of Millwood’s 12 million dollar salary.
In Millwood the Orioles are getting a guy who is going to eat up 175-200 innings for them, provide many quality starts, but more importantly Millwood will be a mentor to the younger pitchers in the Orioles system.
The biggest benefactors of Millwood’s presence in Baltimore will be second year right hander Chris Tillman, and rookie left hander Brian Matusz. Millwood will teach these youngsters how to be the workhorse of a rotation and their careers should be better off for it.
For a deal like this we have to give big props to Baltimore’s President of Baseball Operations for pulling off a deal like this. Some baseball guy’s are afraid to make deals like this. A few years ago Pat Hentgen wanted to come to the play for his hometown Detroit Tigers, and end his career there. He could have helped a young Detroit staff learn the game of baseball, the Tigers declined and were worse off for it.
Moves like this not only benefit the club in the now, but could have lasting benefits for the team in the years to come. It seems McPhail is serious about turning around the Orioles and moves like this will ensure that happens sooner rather than later.
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