John Smoltz To Sign With Red Sox
10:28pm: Buster Olney agrees Smoltz is on the verge of a deal with the Red Sox. Olney wonders if Boston’s rotation surplus will allow them to trade a young starter. Ken Rosenthal also confirms it, and says the Braves were not willing to guarantee significant dollars.
9:58pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says Smoltz will call the Braves tomorrow morning to tell them he will sign with Boston. The incentives in the deal are said to be "very attainable." Does this push Tim Wakefield to the bullpen during the summer? It’s a good problem to have.
9:20pm: In addition to Rocco Baldelli, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that the Red Sox may be close to signing John Smoltz.
As of last night, sources indicated that Smoltz was leaning toward Boston’s offer which was said to be somewhere in the vicinity of $5.5 million guaranteed with the opportunity to earn a few million in incentives which could hike the salary up to $10 million. The Sox and Smoltz have been talking since before the Winter Meetings. The Sox do not anticipate that Smoltz will be ready until later in May, but one of the incentives being discussed would be a roster bonus if he’s with the team by June 1.
Smoltz will be 42 in May and made $14MM with the Braves last season. It would be quite a surprise to see him leave the Braves after all these years.
Braves Rumors: Pettitte, Glavine, Smoltz
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest hot stove info on the Braves.
- The Braves still have roughly $25MM to spend, with a starting pitcher and a power-hitting outfielder on the shopping list.
- Starters of interest: Derek Lowe, Andy Pettitte, and Jon Garland. Mark Bowman of MLB.com doesn’t believe the Braves would exceed three years and $36MM for Lowe, a Boras client.
- O’Brien isn’t sure if the Jake Peavy talks will restart. But Frank Wren did reiterate that he wants to re-sign both Tom Glavine and John Smoltz if they’re able to pitch.
- O’Brien notes that Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn remain on the free agent market, while the Cardinals could part with Rick Ankiel. All three bat left-handed, however.
Braves Interested In Kawakami
Having lost out on A.J. Burnett, the Atlanta Braves are shifting their attention to a different candidate to fill out their starting rotation–33-year old Japanese veteran Kenshin Kawakami.
Dave O’Brien at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Braves are serious contenders for Kawakami’s services. While teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Orioles are also in on Kawakami, "the Braves are particularly motivated to improve their rotation," O’Brien says.
Failing to sign Burnett is certainly one motivating factor, but O’Brien also mentions the increasing chance that John Smoltz does not return to the Braves in 2009.
Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com
Odds and Ends: Burrell, Braves, Red Sox
Links for Friday night…
- The Reds are going to call Pat Burrell‘s agent.
- Ken Rosenthal breaks down the Braves’ options now that they’ve lost out on A.J. Burnett. Could they sign Rafael Furcal as a second baseman and move Kelly Johnson to left field?
- The Red Sox signed five players to minor league deals, including Paul McAnulty and Billy Traber.
- T.R. Sullivan takes a look at the market for Ben Sheets from the Rangers’ perspective.
- Keith Law calls the Raul Ibanez signing ‘absurd’ for the Phillies.
- Orioles manager Dave Trembley thinks his team is still in the running for Mark Teixeira.
- Dean Jones Jr. breaks down the Orioles’ Rule 5 draft selections.
- Dave Dombrowski isn’t the only one who’d like to bring John Smoltz to Detroit. Even college basketball coach Tom Izzo likes the fit.
- Jay Bruce also plays GM; he wants the Reds to keep their young pitching. Bruce also revealed that Jerry Hairston Jr. is considering the Phillies and Mariners in addition to the Reds.
Brewers Interested In Unit, Moyer, Smoltz, Wolf
Tom Haudricourt has the latest from Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin as the Brewers try to strengthen their rotation. Melvin just confirmed interest in Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, Randy Wolf and John Smoltz.
Melvin acknowledged that “nobody’s going to replace C.C.,” but the Brewers have “ongoing discussions” with all four of the pitchers he mentioned.
Haudricourt writes that of the four, only Wolf seems likely to get offers longer than one year.
John Smoltz Rumors
9:30pm: Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski confirmed interest in Smoltz.
6:56pm: MLB.com’s Jason Beck says at least seven teams have shown some level of interest in Smoltz.
4:04pm: Rosenthal says "the Braves are prepared to lose Smoltz if another team offers him a significant guarantee on a one-year deal."
2:53pm: Jerry Crasnick indicates Tom Glavine doesn’t have the same open-mindedness to other teams as Smoltz. For Glavine it’s probably the Braves or retirement. Glavine’s ahead of schedule in his rehab.
2:10pm: Nick Cafardo says Smoltz still prefers Atlanta but is also considering the Red Sox, Mets, and Tigers. The Tigers’ interest appears to be mutual, according to Jon Paul Morosi.
1:54pm: Sean McAdam says the Red Sox have had discussions with Smoltz’s agent. They’ve checked in on tons of free agents though, perhaps as a ruse.
WEDNESDAY, 11:43am: ESPN’s Peter Gammons says the Red Sox are one of the teams that received Smoltz’s medical info.
TUESDAY: Rosenthal says Smoltz’s agents are passing out medical info to teams. Rosenthal spoke to one GM who believed Smoltz might be willing to leave the Braves.
MONDAY: Since the Braves have yet to offer a contract to rehabbing pitcher John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal wonders if other teams will jump in with bids. But rest easy, Braves fans. Everyone still expects Smoltz to re-sign with Atlanta.
Braves Decline To Offer Arb To Smoltz
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves declined to offer arbitration to John Smoltz today. Smoltz is a Type B, but the Braves don’t want to risk having Smoltz at anything near the $12MM guaranteed he earned this year. The decision was no surprise, and the Braves still hope to re-sign Smoltz if he can pitch.
Odds and Ends: Pudge, Ohman, Manny
Rounding up linkage for Monday…
- The Jays claimed two players off waivers: shortstop Angel Sanchez and pitcher Kelvin Jimenez.
- The Cubs and Nationals swapped minor leaguers. The Cubs sent pitcher Matt Avery to the Nats for another pitcher named Ryan Buchter.
- Good stuff from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick – he surveyed 15 front-office people on the top stories of the offseason.
- One of a million conversations taking place at the GM meetings: Brian Cashman chatting with Walt Jocketty.
- Tony Massarotti’s top five lies told during free agency.
- Ken Davidoff names his top ten GMs.
- Joe Posnanski on the Mike Jacobs–Leo Nunez trade.
- River Ave. Blues explains why the Yankees should offer arbitration to Ivan Rodriguez.
- The official list of the 191 players eligible for free agency.
- The Braves hope to re-sign free agents Will Ohman, Greg Norton, and John Smoltz. The Smoltz situation may not be resolved until January.
- Tracy Ringolsby lists needs for every team.
- The Tigers signed an independent league lefty named Kris Regas to a minor league deal.
- John Shea says the Giants and A’s will consider the big-name free agent sluggers this winter.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers doesn’t see Manny Ramirez signing until Christmas time. He sees the New York and L.A. teams as suitors.
- Joe Sheehan proposes five radical offseason moves.
- The Cubs signed a couple of Korean players: catcher/outfielder Jae-hoon Ha and pitcher Soo-min Jung.
Smoltz To Take Clemens Approach?
SUNDAY: Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reminds Braves fans of the plan for Smoltz. He will continue to rehab (sans progress reports for the media). If Smoltz is willing and able to pitch, the Braves want him back.
SATURDAY: Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News talked to John Smoltz‘s agent, Keith Grunewald. Smoltz, of course, would love to finish his career in Atlanta. The Braves figure to make an effort to re-sign him, but it’s not a lock. Smoltz could be ready in May or June following shoulder surgery, and could sign late with a contender as Roger Clemens did a few years ago. It’s not known whether he’ll start or relieve.
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.