Is Kevin Millwood The Answer For The Red Sox?

The Red Sox are in need of some rotational depth, and the most commonly mentioned name seems to be one Kevin Millwood, recently rejected by the New York Yankees after a mediocre stint in Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

So not the most sterling of resumes. But does Millwood make sense for the Red Sox?

Looking past his nine bad innings in Triple-A this year, the last impression we have of Kevin Millwood is one of a pretty average major league pitcher. His xFIP has bounced around 4.50 for the last four-or-so years, which makes him about all you can ask for when it comes to a fifth starter. And if he can provide that for the Sox while they're waiting for Daisuke or Lackey, then he might make sense for the Sox. 

It doesn't seem like the Yankees thought much of Millwood, though, and at this point he's only thrown a few minor league starts, and then not for a good three weeks. If the Sox are looking to get some insurance against Daisuke or Lackey not being ablt to contribute in the long run, then Millwood seems an underwhelming choice. If they're looking, on the other hand, for a temporary option, then he'd better be able to start right away, or else they won't be getting much use out of him.

The problem for the Red Sox right now is they've got very imperfect information. Can both Lackey and Daisuke come back? Will they be good enough to keep sending them to the mound every fifth day? The Sox need some sort of answer, but I'm not sure that Millwood fits either bill.