2008 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

Looks like the Red Sox have made a couple more minor moves with potential big payoff, reportedly close to adding Smoltz and Baldelli. Smoltz has bigtime potential. Yes he's getting up there in age, but he's still effective when healthy. Of course health is a concern. I don't think he'd be ready till midseason or so, but he'd be a welcomed addition for the stretch run. They needed a 4th OF since they traded Crisp and Baldelli fits that mold just fine. He can play any OF position and could be used to spell Ellsbury (?'ble performance) and Drew (injuries). I just hope they don't need him to play a lot of consecutive games because last year due to his medical problems the Rays were hesitant to use him in back to back games.

A major league source who was in contact with John Smoltz on Wednesday night said the free agent will be calling the Braves on Thursday morning to tell them that he has decided to sign with the Red Sox.

MLB.com confirms that it'd be a $5.5 million deal with a chance to earn up to $10 million in incentives. Smoltz is 41 and he'll be coming off major shoulder surgery, but he could very well be another top-of-the-rotation starter for Boston. It's a big addition. Jan. 7 - 11:10 pm et
Source: Hot Stove Blog

The Red Sox are close to signing free agent Rocco Baldelli, ESPN.com's Peter Gammons reports.

This has been an obvious fit since even before Coco Crisp was traded, given Boston's need for a right-handed-hitting outfielder and Baldelli's status as a New England native. The Pirates were also going after him and could have offered him more playing time. Still, Baldelli is probably a better fit as a reserve. Jan. 7 - 9:30 pm et
Source: ESPN.com