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02/05/2003 Archived Entry: "MLB News 2/5/03: Dragons Give Up On Millar"
Kevin Millar not playing in Japan but where will he play?
by Bart Ewing
The Chunichi Dragons anounced today they have given up on Kevin Millar playing for them this year. This does not mean that they will release him from the contract though. MLB has been negotiating the stalemate for a couple of weeks. One possible solution is that Millar may need to be "posted" which will make him basically a FA for all teams to bid on. The Dragons may agree to this compromise.
This isn't a big deal for the Red Sox necessarily. They still want Millar but things have gotten fairly crowded at the corners. They signed Ortiz and Jeremy Giambi. They have Hillenbrand and Bill Mueller at the hot corner. Millar is so versitile though that between 1b, 3b, Lf and DH he'll get his at bats. Basically Millar could end up anywhere and nowhere in 2003. It just won't be in Japan.
Replies: 4 comments
Will that's what the Japanese team is negotiating with MLB over. it may be another player or cash or something else. Of course a possible ending is He doesn't play period. I think he will though. This only states they accept he's not coming to Japan to play.
Posted by Bart Ewing @ 02/06/2003 11:27 PM EST
Millar did sign the contract (3 yr 6 mil, with 3rd yr being club option...?), right? That's why there's all this fuss right now.
It's not quite like the Nakamura situation who only commited verbally (he shouldn't have chickened out tho, wimp).
Posted by simon @ 02/06/2003 12:15 PM EST
Kevin Millar would not be happy in Japan because he is a people's person who is alot of fun to be around. He would never be able to joke and have fun like he can in the states because he will only be able to talk to his interpreter. This would cause him great unhappiness which would effect his play.
Posted by J. Luscher @ 02/05/2003 11:53 PM EST
How will the Dragons have the right/ability to post Millar? As far as I can tell all they had was an agreement in principle. If you don't have a signed contract, how do they have the right to post him?
Posted by Will @ 02/05/2003 11:00 PM EST
