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Sports Briefs: Smoltz reaches an agreement to play for Red Sox
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Published: January 9, 2009
After more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz is likely to finish his stellar career wearing a different uniform.
In a stunning end to one of baseball's longest runs, Smoltz reached preliminary agreement on a contract with the Boston Red Sox after failing to work out a deal to return for his 22nd season with the Braves.
A person familiar with the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity because the final paperwork had not been completed, said Smoltz will sign a guaranteed deal with the Red Sox worth about $5 million and also have the possibility to earn another $5 million in performance bonuses. The deal was expected to be finalized later yesterday.
Smoltz issued a statement through his agent and said he had little choice except to talk with other teams after hearing what the Braves planned to offer.
"I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team, but I now feel the need to clear up any misconceptions and inaccuracies about the contract negotiations between myself and the Atlanta Braves," he said. "There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams."
The Red Sox also agreed to a $500,000, one-year contract with outfielder Rocco Baldelli, but clearly the deal with Smoltz is the biggest splash yet for a team that lost to Tampa Bay in the AL championship series and is looking to keep pace with the rival Yankees, who've doled out $423.5 million in contracts to three players after missing the playoffs last season.
Baseball
■ Trevor Hoffman, baseball's career saves leader, closed his deal with the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, reaching agreement on a $6-million, one-year contract, according to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Hoffman can make an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses, based on games finished.
Hoffman, 41, had pitched for the San Diego Padres since 1993, but the team recently withdrew its offer for next season.
Hoffman converted 30 of 34 chances last season, increasing his saves record to 554. The face of the Padres' franchise since Tony Gwynn retired, Hoffman had once hoped to hear AC/DC's Hells Bells in San Diego for the rest of his career. Contract talks with the Padres soured, however, and the team pulled its offer of $4 million for 2009 with a club option for $4 million in 2010.
■ The Chicago Cubs and Milton Bradley wrapped up their $30 million, three-year deal yesterday after he passed a physical.
Joining his seventh team in 10 years, and fifth in the last five, Bradley is coming off a productive season with the Texas Rangers. But his onfield talents have often been overshadowed by his outbursts and flashes of anger.
"I did it. It's in the past. It's over with," Bradley said during a Wrigley Field news conference.
A switch-hitter, Bradley batted .321 with 22 homers for Texas while leading the American League with a .436 on-base percentage last season. He made the All-Star team while serving primarily as a designated hitter.
■ The Milwaukee Brewers announced a presenting sponsorship agreement with Potawatomi Bingo Casino yesterday, part of the team's expected double-digit percentage gain in sponsorship revenue.
But just as Milwaukee's first playoff appearance since 1982 involved some late-season drama, the club's latest off-the-field victory came with complications. The Brewers had to tread lightly given the nature of Potawatomi's business.
Major League Baseball officials have relaxed some long-standing restrictions on clubs' ability to make deals with gambling-related businesses, but officials remain sensitive to the issue.
MLB chief operating officer Bob DuPuy said the league didn't have concerns about the Brewers' deal.
"There is no sports book associated with Potawatomi, casino gaming is now part of the entertainment landscape in 40-plus states and a number of Clubs have had advertising and sponsorship relationships with local casinos," DuPuy said in an e-mail.
■ Joe Henry, the former Negro Leagues player nicknamed "Prince" for his skill at entertaining crowds, was mourned by family, friends and fans yesterday at his funeral in Illinois. He died last Friday at the age of 78.
Henry grew up in Brooklyn, Ill., and played in the Negro Leagues from 1950 until 1959 as an infielder for Memphis, the Detroit Stars, Indianapolis and the Detroit Clowns.
According to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, he later worked for American Motors and became one of the first blacks in United Auto Workers' history to serve as a chief steward.
■ The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with 15 free agents, including longtime big league shortstop Juan Castro.
Castro, 36, signed with the Dodgers in 1991 and began his major league career with them four years later.
Castro has a .228 batting average in 984 career games with the Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles.
Castro appeared in a combined 61 games with the Reds and Orioles last season, hitting .193 with two homers and 16 RBIs.
The Dodgers said yesterday they agreed to terms with right-handers Yhency Brazoban, Travis Chick, Nick DeBarr, Edgar Martinez and Scott Strickland; left-handers Carmen Cali, Brian Mazone, Jacobo Meque, Stephen Randolph and Erick Threets; first basemen-outfielders Mitch Jones and Val Pascucci; and infielders Hector Luna and Luis Maza.
NASCAR
■ Gillett Evernham Motorsports has reached a merger agreement with Petty Enterprises, creating a four-car team that will ensure the famed No. 43 races in 2009.
The two teams agreed in principle yesterday, but said details of the transaction will not be released until the deal is finalized over the next month. The team will be co-owned by Richard Petty, Petty Holdings -- which is owned by majority shareholder Boston Ventures -- and Gillett Evernham Motorsports.
The name of the new team was not released, but it's believed the parties are leaning toward re-branding the organization Richard Petty Motorsports to capitalize on the seven-time NASCAR champion's name.
Miscellaneous
■ Professional cycling declared an era of unity yesterday with the launch of a calendar that groups 24 elite races into a world ranking system for riders and teams. Races involved are the major tours of France, Italy and Spain; 10 stage races; and and 11 one-day classics in Europe.
The coordinated series completes a deal between the International Cycling Union (UCI) and Amaury Sports Organization, the owner of the Tour de France.
The calendar offers guarantees to race organizers, sponsors and broadcasters that the 16 best teams will compete in all the top races.
Riders and teams will collect points for finishing positions in races and individual stages which will count toward the world rankings. Starting in 2011, the rankings are intended to decide which teams can enter the Tour de France.
■ Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto won't win a record sixth ice dance title this year, withdrawing from this month's U.S. Figure Skating Championships because of his back injury.
The injury forced the Olympic silver medalists out of the Grand Prix final last month. While it's improving, Agosto said in a statement yesterday that he hasn't been able to train at the level needed for nationals.
The couple does intend to compete at the world championships in March. Results there determine how many entries countries get for next year's Vancouver Olympics.
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