Smoltz' wish list includes Boston

Smoltz' wish list includes Boston

LAS VEGAS - John Smoltz wants to pitch for a team that could take him to the World Series. He hopes that's Atlanta, but Smoltz is considering Boston, the New York Mets, and his hometown Detroit Tigers as possible destinations according to a major league source.

While his agent, Keith Grunewald would not confirm Smoltz' preferences he did say that he's sent out videos of Smoltz' recent throwing session to the preferred teams and has also sent his medical records.

Grunewald said of the workout, "He threw all of his pitches, curve ball, slider, splitter. he looked great."

Grunewald said Smoltz would still prefer to be a starting pitcher.

He would not comment on whether he's received a response from any of the teams on Smoltz' list.

It would be really cool if we signed him.

He IS a closer now...

Sources: Smoltz could sign with BoSox

John Smoltz has pitched his entire major league career with the Atlanta Braves, but he is on the verge of a deal with the Boston Red Sox, according to sources.

Smoltz, 41, has pitched in 708 games for the Braves, winning 210 games and earning 154 saves. He has been been rehabilitating his shoulder since having surgery last season, and there have been reports that the has made excellent progress.

Smoltz's departure from Atlanta would come in a winter in which the Braves have struggled to fill holes in their rotation; Atlanta was unable to land Jake Peavy, after extensive trade talks, and was unable to sign free agent A.J. Burnett.

Boston's proposed deal with Smoltz is for $5.5 million in base salary, and $5 million in incentives.

Assuming the Red Sox close out negotiations with Smoltz, they will go into spring training with six veteran starters -- Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, Brad Penny and Smoltz. Penny agreed to terms on a one-year, $5 million deal, and will be in Boston Thursday for his physical examination.

But the Red Sox have come to believe in the idea of going into each season overloaded with starting pitching, and operating under the assumption that at some point, injuries will factor in the equation, or that some members of the rotation will need rest.

The signings of Smoltz and Penny also give the Red Sox the flexibility to consider trading one of their young starting pitchers -- most notably Clay Buchholz, whose name has come up in trade talks with the Texas Rangers, for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, as well as with other teams.

01/07/09 11:40 PM EST
Smoltz set to sign with Red Sox
Boston would target June return for rehabbing righty

By Ian Browne / MLB.com

BOSTON -- Never shy about pitching on a big stage, John Smoltz, a potential Hall of Famer, is on the verge of signing with the Boston Red Sox, where every game feels big.

According to a source close to Smoltz, the 41-year-old right-hander plans on calling the Braves -- the only team he's ever pitched for -- on Thursday morning and telling them that he has decided to play for the Red Sox.

Smoltz is coming off extensive shoulder surgery, which limited him to just six appearances in 2008.

The Red Sox, who have a deep rotation, are expected to take a conservative approach to Smoltz's rehab, one in which the righty could debut for them around June 1. Boston took a similar path with Bartolo Colon in 2008, but the big righty never could stay healthy for a prolonged period.

The deal Smoltz appears set to sign with the Red Sox is for $5.5 million over one season, with attainable incentives that could bring it as high as $10 million.

Once Smoltz is ready to pitch, he will join a talented rotation that includes Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and perhaps Brad Penny, who is expected to officially sign with the Boston in the coming days.

All along, there was some skepticism of whether Smoltz would leave Atlanta, the team he broke in with way back in 1988. But negotiations apparently never progressed to the point with the Braves this winter where Smoltz felt compelled to return.

He has a career record of 210-147 with a 3.26 ERA and 3,011 strikeouts.

Smoltz was converted to the closer's role from 2001-04, where he was also dominant, posting 154 saves.

Though Smoltz has had his share of arm injuries through the years, this past season was the first time since 2000 that he made fewer than 30 appearances. As recently as 2007, Smoltz was still pitching at a high level, going 14-8 with a 3.11 ERA and 197 strikeouts. The Red Sox's main wish for Smoltz is that he will be healthy and thriving during crunch time.

Smoltz has a postseason track record (15-4, 2.65 ERA) similar to former Sox veteran Curt Schilling. He pitched in five World Series, including Atlanta's championship edition of 1995.

Smoltz was the National League's Cy Young Award winner in 1996, when he went 24-8. He is an eight-time All-Star.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Mark Bowman, a reporter for MLB.com, contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Of course the Tigers can't sign him