Smoltz officially a Red Sox

A sad, sad day for the Braves organization. From Boston.com:

* The Red Sox envision Smoltz as a starter, but he will not pitch at the season’s outset. He is coming off of major shoulder surgery, which the the team vetted extensively in their pursuit of Smoltz. Epstein called Smoltz “a physical freak,” and said, surprisingly, that Smoltz would be capable of pitching by April, perhaps even Opening Day. But the Red Sox, foremost, signed Smoltz — who has a 2.65 ERA in 40 postseason games, 27 of which were starts — to pitch in October. They slowed his rehab down to ensure he will be 100 percent when he returns, the date of which has not been determined. The date will not be when Smoltz is merely able, but when he is fully prepared.

* In November, Smotlz sent a video to teams he was interested in playing for, throwing in a bullpen and chucking a football. The Red Sox were impressed, so they sent front office representative Ben Cherrington, trainer Mike Reinhold, and pitching coach John Farrell to Atlanta to watch him pitch. “Even for a guy who’s been in the big leagues for 21 years,” Smoltz said, “That really impressed me.”

* Smoltz’s contract is for one year, but he sees himself pitching for several more years. He’ll turn 42 in May. “Age is just a number,” Smoltz said. Smoltz will earn $5 million guaranteed with $5 million in bonuses.

* Smoltz always loved pitching in Fenway Park during interleague games, and he has never allowed an earned run there. He was always intrigued by the idea of playing here.

* Smoltz attended the Celtics game last night, and in the third quarter, they flashed his face on the JumboTron. “It blew me away,” Smoltz said.

* Smoltz said he has no bitterness toward the Braves, but said they gave him “no options” based on the discrepancy of interest showed to him by Boston and Atlanta.

* The most difficult adjustment so far has been logistical — finding a place to live and so forth. “Tiger called me and said, ‘We still playin golf?’ ” Smoltz said. “I said, ‘Yeah, we’re still playing.’ ” That would be Tiger Woods, who Smoltz plays with occaisionally. Woods has called Smoltz the best golfer he’s played with outside of the PGA Tour. “The team handicap went way down, by the way,” Smoltz said.

Chipper on the Smoltz situation

From the AJC:

It’s easy. If the Braves would have handled this right from the beginning and gone ahead and bitten the bullet and offered him a contract, knowing that when John Smoltz sets his mind to it and says he’s coming back and is going to be back at full strength, that the second another team came into this, the Braves should have taken him aside and said ‘What do we have to do to make this work.’ John Smoltz has earned that respect. We’ve all taken less money to stay here, but the fact of the matter is that John Smoltz has nothing else to prove individually. He wants to win. Who has the best chance to win right now? Boston.

Never, even in a million years did I think this day would come for John Smoltz. I never did. He was the one guy, I honestly thought that everybody would go somewhere else before John would, just for the simple fact that his family here in Atlanta, the school, all the extracurricular stuff that he does off the field, never thought this would happen. So that ought to tell you how disrespected he feels.

A.He went through the whole scenario with me. The underlying tone was extreme disappointment — and from my end it was shock. I could see anyone one else going somewhere before John Smoltz. … After everything that’s happened to this organization this winter, the players and the fans need something good to happen. I’ve been keeping up with the news. I’ve been reading the blogs. The one silver lining we had was John Smoltz being back in the lineup this year. We could have had that dominant guy back in the lineup. But we won’t — and for what, a couple of million dollars?

Q. You worried now about how things might end with you?

A. I don’t know how it’s going to end with me. This is my last year under contract with Atlanta. And this last 24 hours certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by me. I haven’t been offered an extension. If we’re 15 games out in July or August, I doubt they’re just going to let me become a free agent and get nothing in return.”

More on the Smoltz-Red Sox Deal

From ESPN:

Smoltz responded to that, with a statement released through his agent, Lonnie Cooper. “I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team,” Smoltz said, “but I now feel the need to clear up any misconceptions and inaccuracies about the contract negotiations between myself and the Atlanta Braves.

“There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams.

“I have always loved the city of Atlanta, and it will always be my home. I will cherish my 21 years with Bobby Cox and all my Braves teammates. I continue to wish the Atlanta Braves nothing but success in the future.”

Braves CEO Terry McGuirk seemed to think the Braves deal was comparable to the Red Sox, although from what I can find it only guaranteed $3.52.5 million with a max of $10 million with incentives, one of which was the 200 inning mark, a high total for a 42 year old coming back from his umpteenth surgery. The Red Sox guranteed $5.5 million with another $5 million in incentives that were, according to McGuirk, “more attainable.”

As Sabernomics points out, Smoltz probably wasn’t worth the gamble. However, as far as fan PR during an otherwise disastrous offseason, this has to be seen as nothing short of a total failure. It’s hard to believe that Smoltz would’ve jetted to the Red Sox, a team he has had no previous affiliation with, for just three million more (he’s earned over $130 million while in Atlanta) had he not felt disrespected by the Braves. As evidenced by his contract past, money has not always been the priority (See the Yankees in 2000). I think that as time goes on more will come to light showing Wren somehow botched this or Smoltz couldn’t motivate himself to play for another mediocre Braves team that was low balling him.

Smoltz Signs with Boston, Countdown on Wren’s firing commences

DOB has the latest. Two things, I think, played into Smoltz’s decision:
1) Frank Wren taking his sweet time to make an offer.
2) The Braves, or Wren again, failing to land any of their free-agent targets, all but guaranteeing another season of losing in Atlanta. Smoltz is loyal but he’s competitive first; there’s no way he would’ve signed with the Braves for less like he did in the early 00’s if the Braves were as bad then as they are now.

Smoltz to Boston?

Olney seems to think so. The deal would be for one year, $5 million with another $5.5 million available as incentives. Here, Olney rubs salt in the wound:

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.

Yes, yes. Please do more to remind us of what an epic failure Frank Wren has been this off-season. Thanks for not mentioning the Furcal shitshow.

While I’m devastated that Smoltz is leaving, it makes sense for him. In Boston he’ll play on a playoff-caliber team, something the Braves are a solid 2-3 years away from being, barring any mircales.

So, let’s hope this isn’t true. But if it is, good luck Smoltzie – you’ve certainly earned the right to play where you want after all those years of loyalty to the Braves.

Then again, screw Boston. Ugh.