I dug up this photo about a few months or so ago, and thought what better time to post it, than when Smoltz made his Redsox debut. However his time in Boston was cut short due to an 8.32 ERA that was blistered by the AL East. And coming off of surgery with a sore right shoulder didn't help much either. But that didn't keep the likely future Hall of Famer from signing with another team.
Just a little over a week ago, The St. Louis Cardinals signed Smoltz for the remainder of the season. Smoltz will start in the rotation for the rest of the regular season and then could serve out of the bullpen in relief to set-up closer Ryan Franklin come playoff time. Smoltz joins a pitching staff led by Adam Wainwright and former Cy Young award winner Chris Carpenter. Smoltz' arrival could benefit both the team and his future in the bigs. Not only is he hoping to help the team win, but he's hoping to solidify a job for a 2010 go around.
In Smoltz' Cardinals debut, he pitched 5-shutout innings in San Diego and had 7-consecutive punch outs at one point. Smoltz earned the win and finished the game with 9 strikeouts while allowing only 3 hits. Smoltz, an eight-time All-Star and the all-time leader with 15 postseason victories, brings with him an illustrious career highlighted by both starting and relief pitching success. The former Cy Young award winner is one of only two pitchers to have had both a 20-win season and a 50-save season -- the other being Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley. Smoltz is the only pitcher in Major League history to top both 200 wins and 150 saves.
Both sides reached an agreement, for a prorated balance of the Major League minimum of $400,000 -- with the Red Sox committed to pay the balance of his $5.5 million contract -- includes incentive clauses for postseason awards.
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