Mariners say no offer made to Millwood

12/06/2005
DALLAS -- The Mariners said Tuesday evening that reports that they have offered free agent pitcher Kevin Millwood a four-year, $44 million contract are patently wrong.
General manager Bill Bavasi told Seattle media members that he had not had a Dallas meeting with Millwood's agent, Scott Boras, until a half-hour before his media session at 4 p.m. PT on Tuesday.
The Mariners are still believed to be interested in the right-hander and also have shown interest in right-hander Matt Morris, but they strongly shot down the reported years and figures on Millwood.
Bavasi said Monday he wasn't surprised by the mega-offers pitchers have been getting. Starters with lesser resumes than Millwood's have been scoring big deals. Esteban Loaiza signed with the Oakland A's for three years and $21 million and Paul Byrd inked a two-year, $14 million contract with Cleveland.
Millwood, 30, led the American League with a 2.86 ERA, his lowest such number since his 18-win Atlanta Braves season in 1999.
Bavasi said that the Mariners had merely inquired about A.J. Burnett, who inked a five-year, $55 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, and that they had shown interest in the other three starters who have signed in recent days: Byrd, Loaiza and Hector Carrasco.
In characterizing the club's interest in the four, Bavasi said, "One a ton, one a medium amount, one a little and one an inquiry."

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/