Days after losing Johnny Damon to the New York Yankees, the Red Sox were meeting with his agent, Scott Boras, about bringing pitcher Kevin Millwood to Boston.
Boras left New York hours after finalizing Damon's four-year, $52 million deal with the Yankees on Friday to meet with Red Sox representatives.
Boston president Larry Lucchino declined to comment on whether an offer was made. Earlier this week, Boras was in Texas to talk about the 2005 AL ERA champion with the Rangers. The Dallas Morning News reported in Saturday's editions that the Rangers had offered Millwood three guaranteed years at around $10 million per year; however, a source told the Morning News that the team had guaranteed a fourth year that would make the offer worth more than $40 million.
"I can confirm that we are in the process seeking to sign Millwood," Lucchino told The Associated Press on Friday night, adding that a resolution was not imminent.
Boras didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
Millwood went 9-11 with a 2.86 ERA in 30 starts for the Indians last season and made $7 million. He was limited to 25 starts with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004, when he was bothered by elbow swelling. While he was 9-6 with a 4.85 ERA for the Phillies that season, he won only two games after hurting his right elbow.
Although the Red Sox need a shortstop, a first baseman and a center fielder, they would appear to have plenty of starting pitchers. But lefty David Wells has asked for a trade closer to his West Coast home, and the team has said it would try to accommodate him.
Left fielder Manny Ramirez has also asked for a trade. Lucchino said discussions on Wells and Ramirez continue "with some frequency."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.