Kevin Millar

MLB analyst and former Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar joined Mut & Merloni for his weekly appearance on Friday afternoon, saying he would pursue Matt Garza at the trade deadline if in charge. To listen to the interview, check the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page.

“I would add another starter immediately and make a splash,” Millar said. “I’d get a hold of the Cubs and I’d try to get Garza and I’d say, ‘Lets go for it.’ You can’t go wrong with another arm in this rotation.”

Millar said he wouldn’t give up starting pitcher Josh Beckett in any deals, but he does see the Red Sox pursuing a trade to send Beckett out of Boston in the offseason.

“He’s wearing thin out there in Boston,” Millar said. ” His press conferences are wearing thin, the statements are wearing thin, and if he doesn’t turn it around and go off the charts at some point I think there will be a move made.”

Added Millar: “He’s had some great years with the Red Sox, but if things don’t turn around I can see him gone.”

Other than chasing Garza, Millar didn’t have much to say about Boston’s trade possibilities because most of the lineup is set.

“They have the players in place, they just have to do what they’re capable of doing,” Millar said. “They’re not asking for Sandy Koufax numbers, but they’re also not asking for the common-ground numbers with a 5.00 ERA. These guys are good players and good pitchers still and you wonder why, at some point they haven’t put this thing together.”

Added Millar: “The only move you can make here is remove one of the guys at the top [and] make a splash.”The Red Sox have been struggling, but Millar said manager Bobby Valentine has done a good job of keeping the club competitive.

“Overall he’s had some injuries, he’s spouted off at times which has got him him trouble,” Millar said. “I didn’t like the [Kevin Youkilis] comments when they swept the Rays, when he went on camera in the dugout. I didn’t like the situation, but overall I think Bobby Valentine has done a pretty decent job with the injuries and keeping this team playing .500 baseball.”

The Red Sox are still looking for a streak to right the club’s direction, and Millar said the best place to start is the weekend series against the Yankees.

“It’ll be interesting because it’s the first time they’re playing in Yankee Stadium this year and I think they have nine more games there form here on out,” Millar said. “The Yankees, they went out and got swept by Oakland four games with some good things to a hot club, but they haven’t been exactly been on fire as of late. This might be a good time for the Red Sox to get the Yankees and see what happens, especially with [Alex Rodriguez] going on the DL. They kind of have to mix and match with [Eric] Chavez at third base.”