The deal freeing Kevin Millar from his deal with the Chunichi Dragons is completed, reports ESPN's Peter Gammons.

Millar was returned to the Marlins on Friday after the Japanese team he agreed to sign with last month released him from his contract. Florida is expected to trade him to the Boston Red Sox for between $1.35 million and $1.5 million.

	Millar

Millar agreed in early January to a $6.2 million, two-year contract with Chunichi of Japan's Central League, and the Marlins released him in exchange for a $1.2 million payment from the Dragons.

Under Friday's agreement, the Dragons will get an undisclosed payment, the commissioner's office said. One of the negotiators, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the amount would be between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.

While the agreement makes Millar eligible for salary arbitration, the trade to Boston and a a contract agreement between the player and the Red Sox appeared likely to happen quickly.

Millar, 31, led the Marlins with a .306 average last season, hitting 16 homers with 57 RBI.

The Red Sox didn't express interest until Florida put him on waivers, a step necessary to complete the deal with the Dragons.

Boston's waiver claim was rejected by Millar, who already had a deal in place with Chunichi, but Millar then changed his mind about playing in Japan, saying he didn't want to be overseas during a time when the United States could be at war with Iraq.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report