Red Sox To Sign John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli

by Tom Dakers on Jan 8, 2009 12:11 AM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

Boston is signing free agents John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli (sorry Hugo). Rocco's signing I understand, they need a four outfielder and he will be a good one. But after signing Brad Penny I thought thought the Sox had a deep enough starting rotation. Smoltz had shoulder surgery and isn't expected to be ready to pitch till June.

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.

It seems to me to be a lot of money for a 41 year old coming off shoulder surgery, but I guess the Sox have lots of money to spend. Boston is apparently planning on using Smoltz as a starter, though he's been a very good reliever in the past. Smoltz has played for the Braves for his whole career up till now.

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the Baldelli signing. Even if his health doesn’t improve, which it looks like it very well might, he will do a nice job filling the 4th outfielder role. There is also a lot of upside there. Smoltz, it seems like a lot of money to pay Penny and Smoltz over $10 million combined when there’s a decent chance that neither one will be able to pitch effectively. But my guess is that at least one of them works out well for the Red Sox, making it an expensive investment, but worth it to a contending team that needs an effective starter. I think that if I’m the Sox, I’d rather pay those two $10 million for this year than pay 3 years and 60 million to Derek Lowe.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 8, 2009 7:14 AM EST reply actions