By Maureen Mullen
CSNNE.comFollow @maureenamullen
BOSTON -- Right-hander Kevin Millwood, whom the Red Sox signed to a minor league contract May 19, has left the organization, according to several sources.
Millwood made 13 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket this season, posting a record of 5-1 with a 4.28 ERA. In his last start, Friday against Buffalo, he went six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts and a home run. In his previous start, July 30 against Louisville, he struck out a season high 10. The PawSox were 11-2 in his starts.
Millwoods locker was cleared out after Saturdays PawSox win over Buffalo.
He had an opt-out date in his contract for June 20, but chose to stay with the organization. He also had an opt-out date in a minor-league contract with the Yankees earlier in the season, which he did use, eventually signing with the Sox.
Millwood, who turned 36 in December, is a veteran of 14 major league seasons. He was drafted by the Braves in the 11th round in 1993, making his big league debut with Atlanta in 1997. He has a career record of 159-137 with a 4.11 ERA in 414 games (406 starts) for Atlanta, Texas, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Baltimore. Last season with the Orioles, he posted a record of 4-16, a career-high in losses, with a 5.10 ERA in 31 starts. He signed as a free agent with the Yankees in March, but was granted free agency on May 1 without ever appearing in a major league game.
After signing with the Sox in May, Millwood, who pitched a scoreless inning for the National League in the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park and threw a no-hitter for the Phillies against the Giants in 2003, was asked his best-case scenario.
Obviously, in the long haul, itd be up in Boston and pitching well, he said. Every outing I have here with Pawtucket is going to help me in my way back.
Boston Red Sox
General manager Theo Epstein could not be reached for comment.
Maureen Mullen is on Twitter at http:twitter.commaureenamullen.