Cards are set to add Smoltz
BY JOE STRAUSS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Aug. 19 2009
LOS ANGELES — Free agent pitcher John Smoltz will accept the Cardinals' offer
to join the club as its fifth starter after clearing waivers at noon (St. Louis
time) today, barring an unforeseen waiver claim, multiple sources said Tuesday.
Smoltz, the only pitcher in major-league history to achieve both 200 wins and
150 saves, becomes eligible to join his new club after clearing release
waivers. The Boston Red Sox designated the former NL Cy Young Award winner for
assignment Aug. 7 before placing him on waivers Monday. Teams have 48 hours to
place a claim in the unlikely event they are willing to assume the balance of
Smoltz's $5.5 million contract.
The Cardinals would be liable for only a pro-rated share of the major-league
minimum, about $100,000; the Red Sox remain responsible for the balance.
In return, the Cardinals gain one of his generation's most experienced
postseason arms, at least a temporary fill for their unsettled fifth starter
role, and perhaps ultimately a valuable option to set up closer Ryan Franklin.
Word of the pending move floated to the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium on
Tuesday, as Los Angeles had also expressed interest in Smoltz.
The Dodgers are believed more likely to acquire another released veteran,
Vicente Padilla.
Motivated by the NL Central leaders' accelerating push, Smoltz is "leaning
heavily" toward joining the Cardinals, according to a source familiar with his
thinking.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak deferred comment until today; however,
a club source confirmed the assumption of a pending announcement today.
Two of Smoltz's ex-Atlanta Brave teammates — Cardinals third baseman Mark
DeRosa and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright — participated in an organizational
lobbying effort since the Red Sox made clear they no longer saw a fit for
Smoltz in the American League.
Smoltz, 42, was released after compiling a 2-5 record and 8.32 ERA. He is 14
months removed from shoulder surgery that ended his probable Hall of Fame
career with the Atlanta Braves.
The Red Sox signed him to a deal stuffed with late-season appearance incentives
in anticipation of him providing a second-half jolt.
Smoltz was activated June 25 but consistently labored in eight appearances. He
rejected the Red Sox's offer of a temporary minor-league assignment to assist
his transition to relief.
While Smoltz's strikeout-walk ratio has not been at issue, his command within
the strike zone has vexed him. Opponents tagged him for 59 hits, including
eight home runs, in 40 innings. This year's 1.70 baserunners per inning dwarfs
Smoltz's 1.176 career average.
Smoltz required elbow surgery before the 2000 season and returned in 2001 to
take over the Braves' closer role during the second half. Smoltz represented
one of the game's most dominant closers, saving 144 games from 2002-04. But the
role felt confining to him and Smoltz rejoined the Braves' rotation in 2005 and
tied for the league lead with 16 wins in 2006. The 1996 NL Cy Young Award
winner might have captured a second award had the Braves' porous bullpen not
dropped six saves behind him.
A rookie in 1988, Smoltz carries a 212-152 record and 154 saves in 716
appearances.
Smoltz expressed a preference to remain in a starting role, as he hopes to
extend his career into next season. According to sources familiar with
negotiations, the Cardinals acceded to Smoltz's request.
The Cardinals see an attractive and certainly cost-effective mix of experience,
potential and versatility as they separate themselves from the NL Central.
Smoltz remains the winningest postseason pitcher in the game's history — 15
wins in 40 appearances, including 27 starts.
A clubhouse consensus insists the set-up role represents the most glaring
leftover weakness following recent upgrades to the lineup.
The Cardinals also have groped for consistency from their No. 5 starter this
season largely because of Todd Wellemeyer's erratic mechanics.
Entering Tuesday night's start, fifth-starter candidates Wellemeyer, Brad
Thompson, P.J. Walters and Mitchell Boggs carried a combined 10-15 record and
5.45 ERA and had allowed 320 baserunners in 188 1/3 innings. Wellemeyer was a
13-game winner in 2008 but lost his starting role last month before landing on
the disabled list Aug. 11 with elbow inflammation.
Duncan has gotten a lot over the years out of pitchers who were, shall we say, less-than-stellar before they came to St. Louis, so you gotta think that if a future Hall of Famer like John Smoltz has anything left, Duncan will get it out of him. 
