Millar, Mueller file for free agency.


Both filed today. No word on the rest of the pack.

I guess it's

Well so much for taking the time to make their decision, I actually see the Sox attempting to retain both, especially if Kapler isnt healthy to start the season. However Millar is probably done, maybe a return to the NL would be in order. Mueller I think everyone would love to have back. However unless if the Sox move Youks to 1B I think hes going to be a Twin.

Time to move on.
Time to rebuild on the fly.

Atlanta does it year in and year out.

Youkilis to 3rd barring trades, go after a 1B with Power..

There's something very upsetting about the thought of no more Bill Mueller on the Red Sox. I hope he does an "Ellis Burks" and comes back for his last year before he retires. A sentimental favorite, and Rivera's worst nightmare, what more could you ask for in a ballplayer?

I'm going to miss Bill Mueller too. I enjoyed watching him play. He gave 100 percent all the time, and did it quietly. I realize Youkilis is more of a fan favorite, but for me he's "Bill Mueller lite".

I hope they sign one of the two (Mueller). I cringe at the thought of Millar getting regular PT for another year.

Well Millar you will be missed. Well not really. So long

I'll miss Millar. Remember that whole bizarre Japan saga? Cowboy up.

Me too. I think he's a fun presence to have around. He's the Rally Karaoke Guy every team needs. I'll definitely miss him.

You've been a member for almost two years and that was your first post? Wow.

I'll be surprised if he's around next year. The whole "he's a clubhouse/chemistry guy that was vital in us winning the World Series" argument has a little less viability after this train wreck of a postseason, so I guess it's time for him to go elsewhere, and start coming up with catchy slogans for some other team.

Kevin Millar will be missed by many, many fans. NY, BAL, TOR, and TB fans, to be precise.

I hate to see Bill Mueller leave, but when you have two players who appear to be relatively even in terms of ability, you have to give the kid a shot. The 2005 Red Sox seemed old and broken down by September to me, and adding youth when we have the talent handy might help out with that.

But...does this definately mean Billy is gone? It would pain me to see him playing for someone else. Personally, I prefer him over Youks.

EDIT: Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Millar-good luck wherever you end up. I'll never forget you working that walk off of Fruitbat in game 4. Without that walk, Roberts never steals second, and the season is likely over in 4. Thanks for keeping things loose and being one of the 25.

Mueller-probably the most underrated Sox in the last few years. Clutch hits and phenomenal defense. Hope you come back. If not, there will be a free round on me when you're ever in the city.

If Mueller was willing to sign a lower value contract I'm sure the Sox would love to have him back. He has indicated, IIRC, that he wants to play for a team that spring trains in AZ due to family reasons.

I think we have seen the past of Billy in these parts. He was a very, very solid baseball player who certainly earned his nicknmae of "Pro."

I'd take Millar back as a backup OF/1B any day.......there's something to be said for clubhouse chemistry.

Not sure if he'd take that role, I'm sure it will take a couple months of him being passed over for a starting role until he got to accepting that. Bringing a resume of 9HR to the FA table though, should ensure he doesn't get many offers to start.....

I think Millar is only the "ultimate clubhouse guy" when he is getting regular playing time. If he could be that guy in a reduced role then I'd love to see him back.

Millar is going to be a loss to this team. He played some big roles in his three seasons here. This is the same guy who led off the ninth inning of game four with a walk. Besides last season except at times, his bat contributed alot. People complain about players who aren't friendly, and how they are "divas." When you have someone media friendly and very fan friendly, they are seen in a negative perspective. I guess you can't win no matter what you do. If he signs somewhere else, I'll remember him for the positive things he did his three seasons in Boston.

But, Bill Mueller is going to be a huge loss to the team. He is one of the most underrated baseball players in the game. He has a solid defense, and a good bat. Also, he is also a very clutch hitter.

Man, I just remembered something.

Millar's the self-styled "Tom Brady of the Red Sox."

With that in mind, he'll be damn near impossible to replace.

At this point he pretty much deserves a backup spot whether or not he re-signs with the Sox. Figure it could make sense to keep him as that backup, but not if he's asking much. Chemistry is important, but so is making sure you have enough money to sign a quality starting lineup.

Even if Youk is the new fan favorite, I don't think there is a Red Sox fan alive that isn't going to miss Bill Mueller if he plays somewhere else. He did everything in a classy professional way and always played "Like he had Been There"

Such a true statement. I lived in the SF Bay Area when Mueller played for the Giants.
I was excited to hear the Red Sox signed him in 2003. Wherever he ends up, the fans will love him.

I'd hate to see Mueller leave. He gives 110% and has made some spactacular plays at third base. He is very underated by the fans IMHO. Millar on the other hand, well, I'll put it this way, I was always taught that if you can't say something nice about a person then don't say anything at all.

I was going to make a post like that but something came up and you beat me to it. Only difference is I still live in the SF Bay Area. I hope things go well for Bill Mueller on and off the field wherever he goes. That hit off Rivera in the ninth inning of game four is etched forever in my brain. If you play that backwards and forwards on the DVD, Rivera, who I think is also a very good fielder, came pretty close to getting a glove on it. Thank God he didn't.

I'd miss both of these guys if they are not resigned.

With Mueller, there's really nothing to add to what has already been said above.

With Millar, it's certainly a shame that so many fans turned on a guy who had a good 2 years, including some key contributions in both the 2003 (his HR off Clemens in Game 7 SHOULD have iced the game) and 2004 (why are people forgetting that walk?) playoffs. The simple fact is that he should not have had a starting role this year. You can get on him for not performing as an average 1B statwise but Francona is the one who stuck with him well after he should've been on the bench, particularly when there were obviously better options. Francona continued to give him a starting job when he should've just been a role player. Why wouldn't anyone want this guy as the 25th man?

Edit: Clarity.

Let's not forget Mueller's walk off homer to cap the big comeback win in the "brawl game". That game was perhaps the turning point of the 2004 season.
IMO the Sox are making a big mistake if they hand over 3B to Youkilis.

Bring back Billy for at least one more season thank you.

I always felt that Billy Mueller is to this team what Brosius was to those Championship Yanke$$ teams. He is the guy who show up everyday and gets the job done even though he's the one most people forget about. Until he KILLS YOU!! The Yanks lost something when guys like Brosius left the team (I know he retired but, still).

Billy still has some gas in the tank and I for one, really hope he re-signs. There is plenty of AB's available for Youk between 1st and 3rd.

I'll always think of Mueller with the fondness I had for Marty Barrett, Ellis Burks, Tim Naehring and Johnny Valentin, just solid team players and good guys.

That being said, I'll take Youks and use that money to help rebuild the pitching staff please.

I just slow motioned that hit. That is TOO scary. Rivera WAS very close! (I am glad that thought didn't go through my head when Mueller hit it-more nervewracking).

Losing both of these guys is tough.

Millar was a solid hitter in his first two years with the Sox. Too bad he couldn't get it together this year. I would like to see him back, but he does have to come to the realization, he just might not be playing regularly. For those ripping him for chemistry not working this year, maybe his clubhouse levity helped keep the Sox playing loose this year. The injuries to Foulke and Schilling, the decline of Embree, the loss of Pedro...these are the things that hurt the Sox this year.

Mueller, what more can I say that hasn't been said. This guy is a class act, that delivers with the bat and glove.

I wish the Sox could keep them all, Youks plays first, trade Wells for a decent reliever and sign AJ Burnett or Kevin Millwood.

It went through my mind the moment Rivera did that funky move he did to almost catch it. In fact, I almost that he had it for a second.

Let's see...

1) Can't field.

2) Can't run.

3) Can't hit.

4) Can't play catcher.

5) Can't pitch.

It's easy to bash Millar especially after last season where he did essentially nothing, but he did give the Red Sox a certain swagger. And during his time in Boston, the team made the playoffs each year, won the whole damn thing once, and was a managerial brain fart away from going to the world series in year one.

He was never a top-tier hitter nor a gold-glover at first, but he was what he was and he gave the Red Sox what he had. I'll recall him fondly in many respects (kareoke rally guy, the walk against Rivera, him leading other players through the streets outside Fenway to celebrate clinching the '03 wild card, keeping Manny loose) and not so much in others (endless series of innings and rallies killed by popups and medium deep flyballs, his 2-out fielding miscue in the 7th inning of the grady game - the inning before THE inning - that forced Pedro to throw like 20 more pitches to get the third out, those damn KFC commericials) but the time has simply come to say bye bye.

Meuller - Loved the guy. consumate professional. his nickname - pro - was well deserved. Underated fielder, good hitter, clutch in the clutch, and modest as the day is long. Plus he looks like my college roommate. I'd like him back in some capacity, but don't think he wants to be a sub just yet. I wish him well.