The Chunichi Dragons did the right thing in giving up the contract of outfielder Kevin Millar. Sure, the team had a legitimate beef, and owner Bungo Shirai had every right to insist Millar honor the agreement to which he had committed. But, really, why try to force the guy to play here when he clearly did not want to come?

You know the story: Millar was put on waivers by the Florida Marlins and subsequently agreed to play in Nagoya for two years on a $6.2 million contract. Then the Boston Red Sox claimed him on waivers, the player at first rejected that claim, then changed his mind and told Chunichi he would like to go to Beantown and would not report to spring training in Okinawa.

Then followed a tug-of-war with the Dragons insisting he show up as scheduled by Feb. 1, and the Red Sox trying to pull him out of the deal in Japan.