[Batpuff]

Kevin Millwood and the Texas Rangers have reached a preliminary agreement on a four-year contract worth nearly $48 million, according to a person familiar with the negotiations, ESPN's ***** Gammons reported Monday night.

Kevin Millwood[Image: http://espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/5848.jpg]Starting Pitcher
Cleveland Indians

Profile2005 SEASON STATISTICSGMWLBBKERA30911521462.86





Gammons reported that the deal includes a Rangers team option for a fifth year. If the contract goes five years, it would then be worth $60 million. Texas can void the fifth year of the deal if Millwood doesn't pitch a certain number of innings in earlier years of the contract.

Millwood is expected to undergo a physical Tuesday, and the deal likely will be finalized Wednesday.

Details of the deal were disclosed by two people familiar with negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. Millwood's decision to accept Texas' offer was first reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on its Web site.

Millwood had a 2.86 ERA to lead the American League last season, his only season for Cleveland. The right-hander, who turned 31 Saturday, rejected a salary arbitration offer from the Indians.

Millwood, who also was sought by Boston, will be the No. 1 starter in a revamped Texas rotation, already bolstered by two trades this month. The Rangers got former All-Star right-hander Vicente Padilla from Philadelphia and acquired Adam Eaton from San Diego. In nine major league seasons, Millwood is 107-75 with a 3.76 ERA. He won at least 17 games in three of his six seasons with Atlanta (1997-2002) and was an All-Star in 1999. He pitched two seasons for Philadelphia before going to Cleveland last year.