Report: Millwood calls it a career

Shelby, NC – Veteran pitcher Kevin Millwood has reportedly decided to call it a career.

Millwood was quoted by the Shelby Star, a North Carolina newspaper, as saying on Friday he was "ready to retire."

The 38-year-old right-hander spent the 2012 season in Seattle and was 6-12 with a 4.25 ERA in 28 starts. The paper said the North Carolina native was hoping to pitch in 2013, but only wanted to be with a team close to his Georgia home.

Millwood began his 16-year career in Georgia with the Atlanta Braves in 1997 and was an All-Star for the only time two years later when he had, perhaps, his best season at 18-7 with a 2.68 ERA in 33 starts.

While he never won 20 games, Millwood won more than 15 on four occasions and owns a career record of 169-152 with a 4.11 ERA in 451 games, all but eight as a starter.

After spending his first six years in Atlanta, he also pitched two seasons with Philadelphia, one with Cleveland, four in Texas and one each with Baltimore, Colorado and Seattle.

Millwood tossed a no-hitter for Philadelphia on April 27, 2003 and was part of a combined no-hitter for Seattle last June 8. He worked the first six innings against the Dodgers before leaving with a groin injury and five relievers helped close it out.

"It's special just to make it (to the majors) in the first place," Millwood told the paper. "To be able to play as long as I played makes it extra special."