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Smoltz Willing To Pitch Elsewhere
4:10pm: David O'Brien is not surprised by Smoltz's comments, and mentions a conversation a few weeks ago with GM Frank Wren. Wren suggested the Smoltz/Glavine situations might not be addressed until December or January. As expected, Wren is targeting veteran starting pitching and outfield help this winter.
11:40am: Jay Busbee of Atlanta Magazine asked John Smoltz about his rehab from shoulder surgery. To Busbee's surprise, Smoltz offered up some interesting quotes:
"I say this for the first time, without reservation, if I'm going to bust my butt and if I feel like I'm good enough and it doesn't work out here, I will be pitching somewhere else...My dream scenario would be to pitch in the playoffs again, and that's coming from a guy who's been in 13 of them. To me, that's what I'm about. So if the door gets closed here, it'll have to be explored somewhere else."
Smoltz also makes it clear that he prefers to play out the rest of his career in a Braves uniform. Busbee suggests Smoltz's quotes are meant to apply pressure on the Braves to make their decision. He probably won't make outlandish demands for his next contract; I expect him to re-sign with the Braves after the season.
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The Braves should and will make it work with Smoltz, either as a closer or as a starter. I say build a rotation (say, Lowe/Oliver Perez-Jurrjens-trade-two of Hanson/Campillo/Parr/Reyes with one more going to the pen if Hudson returns healthy.
Smoltz closing minimizes injury risk. If the Braves make the playoffs, he can start in the playoffs. Maybe trade Gonzalez and add a set-up man (assuming Moylan and Soriano come back healthy, if they don't, please add two) or have Gonzalez set up along with whoever the new guy is.
Another thought to ponder would be possibly if the Braves are out of it at the deadline, to trade him to a team that looks like a lock for the playoffs so he can have a shot at pitching in the playoffs.
Posted by: melonis rex | September 09, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Mets and Tigers could be players for Smotlz if the Braves let him go.
Posted by: icedrake523 | September 09, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Smoltz isn't going anywhere. Braves will exercise his option if he's able to pitch.
I wouldn't be surprised to see some restructuring of his contract, if the Braves need a few million to sign a key piece, but that's not likely. Braves have plenty of money to spend; the key is finding a place to spend it.
Posted by: AtlantaMike | September 09, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Doesn't he still have a ways to go and even his return to baseball is not guaranteed?
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | September 09, 2008 at 12:19 PM
I have always been a big fan of Smoltz. Would love to see him start or close for the tribe! But I hope for history sake he stays with the braves.
Posted by: Adam | September 09, 2008 at 12:57 PM
AtlantaMike- His option doesn't vest unless he has 200 IP in 2008, which he does not have. The contract will pretty much have to be renegotiated.
Posted by: melonis rex | September 09, 2008 at 03:10 PM
I think that he would be a good pick-up for a team like the Mets who need both rotation and bullpen help for next year( depending on if the bid for k-rod and if Niese can hang onto a spot). But to be honest I could see the Braves making an offer to the whole trio smolts/glavins/maddux and them giving it one last push with Hudson as the ace(if healthy) and Jurrjens in the last spot(or some other internal option if he doesn't hold onto the spot).
Posted by: mitch | September 09, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Everyone needs to cool off. Smoltz won't be anywhere but Atlanta next season. He's just saying that he wants to pitch again so badly, that if Atlanta doesn't offer him a contract, he'll go elsewhere. But there's no way Atlanta wouldn't offer him one...
Posted by: FineHamAbounds | September 09, 2008 at 04:42 PM
damn straight, Hammy.
Posted by: mitch | September 09, 2008 at 04:47 PM
The Braves need to stop living in the past a let him and Glavine go...These guys aren't the pitchers they were 10 years ago and the Braves are a rebuilding team now it's time to move on.
Posted by: JT89 | September 10, 2008 at 01:03 AM