John Smoltz may or may not have consulted with Randy Johnson, Rogers Clemens and maybe even Bob Wickman about a possible return next season. The outcome is that he is likely to spend his entire major league career with the Atlanta Braves after agreeing to a contract extension Thursday that could be worth $39 million clams.
Smoltz, who will turn the big 4-0 next month, will be back for a 20th major league season in 2008 with a deal that guarantees him about $14 million.
The new contract also includes a $12 million option for 2009 that becomes guaranteed if Smoltz pitches 200 innings the first season. The club has left themselves an option for 2010, at a cost of $13 million if he doesn't break a hip.
The veteran righty, who could have become a free agent after this season, has a 195-138 record with 154 saves and a 3.28 ERA. He is the only present big league pitcher - Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley is the other - with at least 150 wins and 150 saves in his career.
Smoltz won the NL Cy Young Award in 1996 and has nine seasons with at least 14 wins. Also, he holds a couple of postseason records with 15 wins and 194 strikeouts. Smoltz began his career as a starter, but moved to the bullpen in 2001. He spent three full seasons as the Braves closer, of course setting an NL record with 55 saves in 2002.
Since returning to the rotation in 2005, Smoltz has gone 32-17 with a 3.34 ERA in 73 starts. He was 16-9 with a 3.49 ERA and 211 strikeouts last season.
[USA Today]
3 comments:
Unreal. Are these guys gonna play into their 50's?
God, I hope not.
He said he has two things left to do in his career.
Play an inning in centerfield and pitch his last game in a Braves uniform.
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