John Smoltz

Smoltz “Probably Not” A Fit In Detroit

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 18, 2009 at 1:11pm CDT

More than two decades ago, before Rick Porcello was born, the Tigers traded John Smoltz to the Braves for Doyle Alexander. Now that he's free to join any team, could Smoltz return to the club that drafted him? Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that it doesn't seem likely.

"It's probably not a fit for us," Dombrowski said. "But we could still sit down and talk about it."

Dombrowski likes his bullpen and expects Jeremy Bonderman to fortify it when he returns from a minor league rehab assignment, so the GM doesn't feel an urgent need to add arms.

Braves Not Interested In Smoltz Reunion

By Mike Axisa | August 17, 2009 at 7:16pm CDT

There figure to be plenty of clubs interested in the recently released John Smoltz, but one of those clubs will not be the Atlanta Braves according to Carroll Rogers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"With the anticipated addition of Tim Hudson in the near future, we have not pursued John Smoltz," Wren said in a text message Monday.

Smoltz is available to any team now for just the pro-rated league minimum.

Red Sox Release John Smoltz

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 17, 2009 at 1:45pm CDT

The Red Sox released John Smoltz, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. They designated the veteran right-hander for assignment ten days ago and weren't able to work out a trade with any team. Smoltz will become a free agent Wednesday once he clears release waivers and should have a number of suitors to choose from at that point.

Any team that signs Smoltz will only pay him the pro-rated major league minimum; the Red Sox would have to cover the rest of his $5.5MM salary. Since bonuses are negated once a player's released, no team will have to pay Smoltz any incentives.

Smoltz To Be Released Monday?

By Eddie Schmid | August 16, 2009 at 8:38pm CDT

8:38pm: Mark Bowman at MLB.com says the Braves appear to have no interest in bringing back Smoltz and discusses the dubious relationship between the righty and the Braves. A source acknowledges "there would have to be some people saying they're sorry to each other" if any deal were to happen, but Bowman suggests that the Braves were more concerned about his durability than the emotions involved. Had Smoltz been willing to sharpen his mechanics in the minors, Bowman says the team would have been more willing to take another chance on him.

7:49pm: Jon Heyman at SI says (via Twitter) that the Red Sox may release the DFA'd John Smoltz tomorrow. As Heyman notes, it was probably difficult to find takers for Smoltz not only due to his questionable performance but also his built-in contract incentives that pay Smoltz for every day he's on the major-league roster.

As we pointed out yesterday, there are a number of teams that retain interest in Smoltz, and Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports named the Marlins and Cardinals as suitors for Smoltz as a right-handed option out of the bullpen.

Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Nationals, Padres, Hardy, Smoltz

By Mike Axisa | August 15, 2009 at 6:23pm CDT

FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up, so let's dig in for some rumory goodness…

This coming week may the biggest week in Nationals' history. In addition to Monday's midnight deadline to sign first overall pick Stephen Strasburg, the Nats could pick their next general manager as early as Tuesday.
"The buzz in scouting circles" is that Diamondbacks executive Jerry DiPoto is the frontrunner for the job, but the team has given "absolutely no indication of its plans." Acting GM Mike Rizzo has "generally gotten good reviews."
The Padres put both Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell on trade waivers Friday. Both are likely to be claimed, but don't count on either getting traded. The team says that the Jake Peavy trade has greatly reduced the pressure on them to move either Gonzalez or Bell.
If either player is going to be moved, it would most likely happen in the offseason when the Padres could negotiate will all 29 other teams.
If shortstop J.J. Hardy stays in Triple-A for more than 20 days, he'll remain under the Brewers control for two more years instead of one. Such a move would enhance Hardy's trade value, and it would be tough for him to argue it's unfair given his lack of production this year. However, if service time was an issue, the club should have demoted him a lot sooner.
Marlins righty Anibal Sanchez was throwing 90-94 in his most recent rehab start, and his return would lessen the pressure on some of the team's other young starters.
The Marlins and Cardinals are among the teams looking at John Smoltz as a reliever. The Cards are also looking at a number of other righthanded options for their bullpen.

Talkin’ John Smoltz

By | August 15, 2009 at 1:27pm CDT

As Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com notes, 42-year-old right-hander John Smoltz has not considered retirement and is hoping to join a new team soon, either as a starter or reliever. Here's what we know so far:

Smoltz was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on August 7 after posting an 8.33 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP over eight starts. He refused an assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket earlier this week, and the Sox now have only two days to find a trade partner before they must grant him his release. The Marlins, Cardinals, Dodgers, Rangers and Astros are thought to have some level of interest. SI.com's Jon Heyman has spoken with MLB executives who believe the veteran is likely to end up back in the National League.

There's a chance an interested club will jump in and make a deal for Smoltz before he's released, but it would make more sense for teams to sit tight until Monday, and leave Boston with the remainder of his one-year, $5.5 million contract. A release will also negate all bonuses and incentives tied to that deal.

Marlins Interested In John Smoltz

By Tim Dierkes | August 13, 2009 at 8:21am CDT

The Marlins are interested in recently-designated veteran pitcher John Smoltz, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Smoltz refused a minor league assignment; the Red Sox will trade or release him soon. Boston will be on the hook for the vast majority of the money remaining on Smoltz's contract.

The Marlins are currently tied with Smoltz's former team, the Braves, for second place in the NL East. They're three games out of the wild card. The Marlins' rotation is 11th in the NL with a 4.67 ERA. Perhaps Smoltz would be more at home back in his old league and division. At least a few analysts feel he still has something left to contribute despite an 8.33 ERA in 40 innings this year.

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said last week he was not interested in Smoltz, "but things can change." ESPN's Buster Olney named the Rangers as an interested party but admitted Boston might be unwilling to deal with a competitor.

Odds & Ends: Reds, Mariners, Yankees

By Eddie Schmid | August 12, 2009 at 9:55pm CDT

A few more links to peruse this evening:

Hal McCoy at the Dayton Daily News says that the Reds won't deal Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, but it's likely that the Reds unload Francisco Cordero to anyone who will take him. It's not clear if Cordero has been placed on waivers just yet.
Larry LaRue at the Tacoma News-Tribune reports that Mariners' top signee last year, Scott Boras client Josh Fields, has had his development stunted because of a contract holdout.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman doesn't have interest in bringing in FA Mark Mulder, says Peter Abraham at the Journal News.
The Rangers have signed their fifth-round pick Nicholas McBride, a HS righty, reports T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com.
According to Dan Barbarisi at the Providence Journal, John Smoltz refused a bullpen assignment to the Sox. This could mean he's only interested in joining another team as a starter, if at all.

La Russa Wants Speier, Smoltz?

By Eddie Schmid | August 12, 2009 at 6:00pm CDT

According to Bernie Miklasz at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), Cardinals manager Tony La Russa indicated that he would be interested in adding the recently dismissed veterans John Smoltz and Justin Speier. Both would be candidates to strengthen the depleted right side of the Cards' bullpen.

Against righties this season, Smoltz put up a 21/2 K/BB ratio while limiting them to a .232 batting clip. Speier has a 20/5 K/BB against them and has kept them to only a .239 average. So despite each having early difficulties, it looks like they each still could be of use to a team like the Cardinals. It's also notable that Tony La Russa had been clamoring to acquire Matt Holliday last year until the Cards finally pulled the trigger to grab him — La Russa has a history of getting his man.

Smoltz Refuses Minor League Assignment

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 12, 2009 at 1:23pm CDT

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that John Smoltz refused a minor league assignment, leaving the Red Sox with the choice of trading or releasing him. Smoltz cleared waivers, so the Red Sox can trade him to any club, but they would likely have to pay much of his $5.5MM salary in any deal. Smoltz, who makes $500k if he's traded, received $35k for every day he was on Boston's roster, but he would no longer pick up those bonuses if he's released and picked up by another club.

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