Millar, 38, takes swing at sticking with Cubs

Kevin Millar helped the Boston Red Sox break their 86-year World Series title drought in 2004. For his next feat, he'll attempt to help the Chicago Cubs end their 102-year dry spell.

But first, the fun-loving first baseman has to make the team.

The 38-year-old Millar, who had a hit in Saturday's 8-7 exhibition victory over the White Sox at Cashman Field, signed with the Cubs as a minor league free agent in February and is at spring training as a nonroster invitee.

Millar is competing for a spot as a reserve corner infielder and outfielder on a team overloaded with right-handed hitters.

But the colorful character, who has a .274 average and 170 home runs in 12 seasons, can give the Cubs more than just a big bat off the bench.

"If you talk to anybody who has ever played with him, he's one of the best teammates you'll ever have," said Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster, who was Millar's teammate with the Florida Marlins and pitched three scoreless innings Saturday. "He brings the ability to play a couple different positions and a great at-bat every single time.

"He's a tough out, and what he brings in the locker room, out on the field and in the dugout, he keeps guys playing to the best of their abilities."

Last season Millar hit .223 with seven homers and 29 RBIs in a career-low 78 games for the Toronto Blue Jays, ending a streak of 10 seasons of playing in at least 105 games.

Among Millar's many reasons for signing with the Cubs were the presence of former Florida teammates Derrek Lee and Dempster and the fact that the Cubs' spring training site is Mesa, Ariz., where Millar and his family have a home.

"It was somewhere I really wanted to play," he said. "I had a couple friends here, and I really wanted to get back to the National League to have the opportunity to play some different positions, pinch hit and obviously come to an organization that's never won.

"It will be pretty exciting to see what we can do."

Millar began his career in 1993 with the Independent League's St. Paul Saints after going undrafted out of Lamar University. He signed with the Marlins later that year and made his major league debut with them in 1998.

He was traded to Boston for cash in 2003 and quickly became a fan favorite. Millar had two of his best seasons there, batting .276 with a career-high 25 homers and 96 RBIs in 2003 and hitting .297 with 18 homers and 74 RBIs in 2004.

"You can't (beat) the group of guys we had. They were a bunch of guys who cared about each other and just played well together," said Millar, who coined the phrase "Cowboy Up" as the rallying cry for the 2003 Red Sox and gave the 2004 World Series champions their proud "Idiots" moniker.

"You only run across that once in a lifetime. That season changed that city forever," he said.

Millar played for the Baltimore Orioles from 2006 to 2008, compiling 52 homers and 199 RBIs, before accepting a reserve role last season with Toronto.

Millar started at first base and batted cleanup in both Big League Weekend games in Las Vegas. He was 1-for-4 and scored twice and is batting .272 (3-for-11) this spring.

"I've been very pleased with Kevin ... he wants it," said Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell, who managed the team here in place of Lou Piniella. "He's opening some eyes. He goes about his business very well, and he's very good in the clubhouse. He's still got some game left."

If Millar, whose first career homer was an inside-the-park job at Wrigley Field, doesn't make the Cubs, it could be the end of his career, he said.

"At this time of my career, I'm just shooting to make the big league team," he said. "I'm 38 years old. I don't think it does any good going to (Triple-A) Iowa."

■ NOTE -- A sellout crowd of 11,553 attended Saturday's game, bringing the two-day total to 22,001.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.