Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Cordero, Colon, Byrd

Links for Thursday…

• John Smoltz told Dan Patrick that the Yankees and Dodgers also courted him.
• KNBR had interviews with Scott Boras and Ned Colletti yesterday.
• The Dodgers are "only monitoring" Kris Benson and Chad Cordero.
• The Phillies have "kept tabs" on Cordero and Eric Milton.
• Baseball America ranked the Rangers’ farm system as the best in baseball.
• Andy MacPhail says the Orioles don’t necessarily have to add a first baseman.
• South Side Sox and Sox Machine on the Bartolo Colon signing.
• Jon Paul Morosi says Jason Isringhausen is a "natural fit" for the Tigers.
• The Red Sox will only get a supplemental pick for Paul Byrd if he signs before the June draft.
• Barry Bloom gathers responses from baseball execs on the salary cap issue.
• Eddie Bajek made a breakthrough in his attempt to crack the Elias code.
• Richard Justice has an interesting story involving new Astro Russ Ortiz.
• Rickey Henderson says he’s still available to play.  Asked about the WBC, he responded, ""What is [the WBC], wrestling?"
• Transcript of an interview with Red Sox owner John Henry.