Braves CEO ‘shocked’ by Smoltz’s decision
McGuirk says team’s offer comparable to Boston’s package, surprised Smoltz walked away
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Smoltz, a free agent, will get a one-year $5.5 million guaranteed contract from the Red Sox, with additional incentives worth up to $5 million. The Braves offered a $2.5 million guarantee and multiple incentives that could have pushed it to just above $10 million if Smoltz had stayed healthy all season.
From DOB's blog:
But Smoltz is not just a 41-year-old coming off shoulder surgery. He’s an exception, if ever there was one. These decisions have to be made with more than just baseball and bottom-line economics in mind, don’t they? Or maybe not? What do you think?
Me, it just seems like the Braves, after hearing what the Red Sox were offering, probably should have said, “Smoltzie, if we have to match it to keep you, we will.” But, hey, after being bitten by pitching injuries the past few years, the Braves seemed unwilling to go beyond what they deemed a reasonable amount to pay Smoltz.
And Smoltz's response, via espn.com:
Smoltz responded to that, with a statement released through his agent, Lonnie Cooper. "I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team," Smoltz said, "but I now feel the need to clear up any misconceptions and inaccuracies about the contract negotiations between myself and the Atlanta Braves.
"There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams.
"I have always loved the city of Atlanta, and it will always be my home. I will cherish my 21 years with Bobby Cox and all my Braves teammates. I continue to wish the Atlanta Braves nothing but success in the future."
Wow. Well, best of luck, Smoltzie. I have no doubts Boston will love you.
ETA: As usual, Chipper has an opinion.
16 comments:
I gotta say, as a Brett Favre fan, I feel like this is deja vu. I agree with Chipper that Smoltz deserves the benefit of the doubt after 21 years. And, I don't blame Smoltz for not wanting to be taken advantage of. No matter what you think about how this went down, one thing's for sure - Atlanta's rotation is in serious trouble.
I gotta agree with you Jessica- and Chipper...If you are going to take a flyer on ANYONE this off season if you are the Braves doesn't John Smoltz deserve the benefit of the doubt?? Multiple sources NOT named Terry McGuirk have said the offers were not close in guarantees and the insentives the braves laid out (including 200 innings pitched- there is NO WAY Smoltzie is pitching 200 innings this year) were not nearly as realistic as what Boston offered. If the Braves don't want him that badly then I'm glad he found somwhere that does.
That being said I keep trying to picture him on the mound in a Red Sox uni...just can't do it (kinda like watching Maddux come out of the pen during the dodgers-cubs series...i had to keep reminding myself that the cubs were batting and maddux was pitching for the dodgers)
For once, I agree with Larry. Shocking, I know. And, there's no way they won't be out of it by the trade deadline.
Waiting to hear from Tommy and Frenchy about this.
We've spent little to no money in the off season because we haven't signed anybody!!! And we've unloaded a lot of salary $$$ (Hampton). That's what makes all of this hard to take. To lose a veteran, an icon, over a couple million one-year dollars. Heck he should be paid that to sit on the bench and be a mentor to the next generation. This is pathetic. I'm disguisted.
Jennifer-
Totally agree. When you let a veteran pitcher who has thrown more then 400 more innings then your current (projected) starting rotation COMBINED you need that presence on the bench, if only to tutor the young guys. Is $5 million a lot to pay for that? Of course it is- but Javy Vazquez is the only current starter that has thrown more then 219 total innings IN HIS CAREER. Smoltz's brain and half a season of his arm are worth it...and what exactly are we saving that $40 million for anyways if not for a proven veteran starter?
Check this out.....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300285650890
L84sky, that's awesome.
You all might also like this (in a wry way), sent to me by my Red Sox Fan friend Dan...
http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/2009/01/old_time_baseball.html
Hmmm....that pic is kinda freaky Lauren (haha)....On another note, it seems everyone has been dissecting the reason he decided to leave/decided not to stay. Some speculated reasons have been money, chance to win a series ring, his ego, etc. However my (humble)opinion is that I feel he felt like he was under appreciated (yes---he deserves respect and appreciation) but more so that his inner driven self knew that the way things were within the organization was not in alignment with his personal convictions. By convictions, I don't mean religious. I'm sure there is so much more going on "behind the scenes" that the media and public does not know about. I don't think that John would want to be a part of something that he could not 100%stand beside. Granted, we all will never always agree with our bosses and have to do as we are told so to speak, but we all have lines we will not cross. I just think he did all he could do and still sleep at night. He does not seem like the type of man who makes knee jerk, ego driven reactions. I think this was a very difficult decision for him that probably was met with much prayer and sought after valued advice. The very fact that Bobby called him Thursday morning and tried to get him to reconsider and he stood firm speaks volumes. So, there it is, my little humble opinion. See why I never post? All I do is ramble on and on and on.... :)
Bobby Cox is being set up to fail big time. My prediction is he is fired in May and Chipper is traded shortly thereafter. My time as a Braves fan is quickly coming to an end. I love my BMc but this is all just ridiculous.
Jennifer-
I don't think they will fire him, if only because he only has one year on his deal- they may "let him retire" at the end of the year, however (or, if things continue to go the way they are, he will run screaming out the door)...
I agree that this is getting beyond painful but don't give up on our boys just yet! There is a lot of good to great young talent waiting in the wings...
(she says, still hoping "Smoltz to sign with Red Sox" is just a really bad dream...I still love my team but a little of my loyalty is now located 937 north of Atlanta)
Wren should be fired. This is absolutely unacceptable. Over the years, I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but now, I'm wondering if he really gives a hoot about this team.
Regardless of all the other agreements/feelings, I really do wish Smoltz stayed.
Look at it this way, there are NO WINNERS in this transaction. It doesn't matter that Boston gets Smoltz. There are no winners. Baseball as a whole as suffered.
I'm pretty sure Boston will be happy if Smoltz is successful.
I'm having a hard time being angry about this. I love the Red Sox, I think Theo Epstein is brilliant, and I think Smoltzie will really thrive on such a large stage. The losers here are the Braves.
Lauren-
Could not agree more. Smoltzie will live for those big games against the yankees and the playoff stage he has always dominated. The Braves screwed up big time on this one. If there was ever a time to put business aside and go with your heart and your gut, this was it.
I know this is kind of late on the whole thing, but I read an article today that Frank Wren was interviewed, and he said "It's not that we weren't willing to Pay Smoltz as much as the Red Sox to play, but we weren't going to pay him that much not to pay." I agree with Wren on this. I think that baseball has become nothing but name, and honestly, I'm kind of annoyed with the whole "Were going to pay you millions of dollars for what you did ten years ago." Obviously, Smoltz is an amazing played, and Im not underestimating him at all. But just because he has reached the 3000 strike out club doesn't mean he will ever pitch another strike out again. I totally believe he is an amazing player, but I also believe his years are behind him. I'm not mad about it, besides the fact that Chipper needs to stay out of it, but I have to say that I agree with Wren on this one.
I agree. If John really believes he can keep throwing "lights out," then there should have been no issue with the salary the Braves offered. If he performed fairly well, he would have been compensated for that performance.
Too bad that he wants to get paid whether he earns that money or not. Sorry, but I am not impressed.
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