Hot Stove Update
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Baseball journalists speculated earlier in the week that the offseason moves and signings were basically through. But the Sox are apparently still very active… expect not one, but TWO announcements today or tomorrow about a couple of guys who will be donning the Boston home whites. |
First up, local boy Rocco Baldelli (Woonsocket, RI) is reportedly going to announce tonight at the Boston Baseball Writers’ Association dinner (where’s he’s accepting the Tony C Award) that he is signing with the Red Sox. Thanks, Peter Gammons, for ruining the surprise! Nick Cafardo is slightly more cautious in his report, stating that:
According to sources close to the talks, the 27-year-old Baldelli is inching closer to a deal with the Sox. Boston has done extensive background work on Baldelli’s health, including a mitochondrial disorder that has been rediagnosed as the less severe channelopathy this winter.
Rocco would look to fill the fourth outfielder role the Sox needed, and provide a right-handed bat as well.
The latest scuttlebutt has Atlanta legend John Smoltz on his way to the Fens as well. Smoltzy is reportedly accepting a deal from the Sox worth $5.5 million in base salary, and $5 million in incentives. Even MLB.com is reporting this acquisition as a virtual certainty:
John Smoltz’s days with the Braves appear to be over. Multiple sources have confirmed that the veteran hurler will officially sign with the Red Sox within the next two days.A Major League source who was in contact with Smoltz on Wednesday night said the 41-year-old right-hander will be calling the Braves on Thursday morning to tell them that he has decided to sign with the Red Sox.
Smoltz began calling many of his teammates late Wednesday night to say goodbye and inform him of his decision.
Smoltz has a 2.65 career postseason era in over 200 innings….if he gets healthy, that would be a very nice addition imo.
Adam makes agreat point, and keep in mind, that post season ERA is low because he was closing through many of those appearences.
I’d love to seem the Sox ease him into a bullpen role, but like Colon in ‘08, we might need him to start if Wake or Penny struggle.
Bottom Line: The Sox are taking a much different approach, when compared to the Yankees… it will be fun to see which philosophy works better.
Now let’s get the catching situation fixed!
He probably has a better shot at staying healthy than CC and AJ.
I have to say, I love the idea of Baldelli as the fourth outfielder.
I like both of these signings. Living in my part of NC, one can’t help but exposed to the Braves constantly, so I’ve seen lots of Smoltz over the years. I’m looking forward to having him on MY team for a change.
John Smoltz is my favorite active ballplayer, and has been for years. Being from Atlanta, I’m a Braves fan as well as a Sox fan…and I’m conflicted about this signing. I wanted Smoltzie to finish his 20+ career playing only for one team, My Braves.
But…if he was going to another team, of course I wanted it to be the Red Sox.
Come October, there’s no one I’d rather have on my side that John Smoltz. He. is. The. Man.
He’ll go into the Hall as a Brave, for sure.
Texy, you’re absolutely correct.
I’m with Rachel. My grandfather lived in the Atlanta for a long time (including all of the ’90s) and passed a bit of the Braves down to me. I wish they’d kept him (or that he’d stayed; I’m not sure which party did the leaving in this case).