AP source: Smoltz agrees to deal with Boston
ATLANTA (AP) -After more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz is ready to finish his stellar career wearing a different uniform.
In a stunning end to one of baseball's longest runs, Smoltz reached a preliminary agreement Thursday on a $5.5 million, one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox after failing to work out a deal to return for his 22nd season with the Braves.
A person familiar with the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Red Sox had yet to make an official announcement, said Smoltz can earn an additional $5 million in bonuses, some based on days on the active roster.
The deal is a subject to a physical, which is scheduled for Monday.
Smoltz issued a statement through his agent and said he had little choice except to talk with other teams after hearing what the Braves planned to offer.
"I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team, but I now feel the need to clear up any misconceptions and inaccuracies about the contract negotiations between myself and the Atlanta Braves," he said. "There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams."
The Red Sox also agreed to a $500,000, one-year contract with outfielder Rocco Baldelli, but clearly the deal with Smoltz is the biggest splash yet for a team that lost to Tampa Bay in the AL championship series and is looking to keep pace with the rival Yankees, who've doled out $423.5 million in contracts to three players after missing the playoffs last season.
Smoltz, the only pitcher in baseball history with 200 wins and 150 saves, had pitched for the Braves since 1988. The 41-year-old is coming off major shoulder surgery that sidelined him for most of last season, but feels healthy enough to pitch at least one more year.
If able to come back, he'll likely join a rotation that already includes Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3), Jon Lester (16-6), Josh Beckett (12-10) and another newcomer, two-time All-Star Brad Penny. Smoltz prefers to finish his career as a starter.
Smoltz's decision is a startling development given repeated statements that he wanted to spend his entire big-league tenure in Atlanta. He was an unknown minor leaguer when acquired from Detroit in 1987 for Doyle Alexander, but went on to become a cornerstone of Braves' teams that won a record 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005, including a World Series title in 1995.
"I have always loved the city of Atlanta, and it will always be my home," Smoltz said in his statement. "I will cherish my 21 years with (manager) Bobby Cox and all my Braves' teammates. I continue to wish the Atlanta Braves nothing but success in the future."
Braves general manager Frank Wren declined comment when reached by e-mail. Boston general manager Theo Epstein was scheduled to meet with the media later in the day.
Smoltz began his career as a starter, winning 24 games and the NL Cy Young Award in 1996. Numerous elbow problems led him to shift to the bullpen to relieve the stress on his arm, and he set an NL record with 55 saves in his first full season as a closer in 2002.
