I’m a big fan of signing a veteran pitcher when you have a young staff that could use some seasoning.
So the Red Sox signing of John Smoltz to me is a very good move. With the quantity of young pitchers on the staff the presence of a vet with the experience and presence of a John Smoltz can only make them better.
With the signing of Brad Penny as well that gives them 4 new players coming off injury shortened seasons. SI has some thoughts:
It could be that they’re just being smart. Those four players are each signed to incentive-laden one-year contracts that will cost the Red Sox a base total of $12.2 million, or $4.25 million less than the Yankees will pay the injury-prone A.J. Burnett in the first year of his five-year contract (or, to turn the tables on Boston, just $200,000 more than they’ll pay the rapidly-aging Mike Lowell in the second year of his three-year contract).
If even one of them pan out for the season it will turn out to be more smart moves for one from one of the smartest GM’s in the league.
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