Millwood and the Rotation

Kevin Millwood, who led the American League with a 2.86 ERA last season, has agreed to a four-year deal, Texas general manager Jon Daniels announced Thursday.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Dallas Morning News reported it was a $48 million contract with an option for 2010 that could raise the total to $60 million.

Despite becoming the first member of the Cleveland Indians to win the ERA title since Rick Sutcliffe in 1982, Millwood finished with a losing record at 9-11 because he received the third-lowest run support in the league.

He gave up just one earned run in each of his last five starts in 2005 and yielded more than three just four times in 30 outings. His .194 average against with runners in scoring position was the lowest among starters in the AL.

Millwood, who turned 31 on Saturday, will head a rotation that will have five new members than what the Rangers started with last season. The Rangers have lost Kenny Rogers to free agency and traded Chris Young in a deal with San Diego for righthander Adam Eaton. Texas also acquired Vicente Padilla from Philadelphia.

Kameron Loe and Juan Dominguez are the leading candidates to fill out the rotation.

In parts of nine seasons with Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland, Millwood is 107-75 with a 3.76 ERA in 258 appearances, all but eight coming as a starter. He enjoyed his best campaign in 1999, when he went 18-7 with a 2.68 ERA during his only All-Star campaign for the Braves.

So, another look at the rotation:

Millwood: 2.86 ERA in 2005, 9-11 Mark, 192 Innings and 146K and 52BB.

Loe: 3.42 ERA in 2005, 9-6 Mark, 92 Innings and 45K and 31BB.

Dominguez: 4.22 ERA in 2005, 4-6 Mark, 70 1/3 Innings and 45K and 25BB.

Eaton: 4.27 ERA in 2005, 11-5 Mark, 128 2/3 Innings and 100K and 44BB.

Padilla: 4.71 ERA in 2005, 9-12 Mark, 147 Innings and 103K and 74BB.

Now, if these five guys start the helm in 2006, then life really is good. Now, if we can lure Roger “The Rocket” Clemens in here for a farewell tour, even better. Loe would still be my guy, but Dominguez would, I guess, do bullpen work. Although, Loe was solid from the pen last year. Not really my call to make, but Loe was an even better starter than he was from the pen. And from a teaching standpoint, you work off the students strengths… so, starter for Loe in my book.