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Marlins Interested In John Smoltz

By Tim Dierkes [August 13 at 8:21am CST]

The Marlins are interested in recently-designated veteran pitcher John Smoltz, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Smoltz refused a minor league assignment; the Red Sox will trade or release him soon. Boston will be on the hook for the vast majority of the money remaining on Smoltz's contract.

 

The Marlins are currently tied with Smoltz's former team, the Braves, for second place in the NL East. They're three games out of the wild card. The Marlins' rotation is 11th in the NL with a 4.67 ERA. Perhaps Smoltz would be more at home back in his old league and division. At least a few analysts feel he still has something left to contribute despite an 8.33 ERA in 40 innings this year.

 

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said last week he was not interested in Smoltz, "but things can change." ESPN's Buster Olney named the Rangers as an interested party but admitted Boston might be unwilling to deal with a competitor.

 

According to MLBtraderumors.com (obviously take it for what its worth)

 

HMMMM might be interesting to see if we can turn him around and he would be cheap.

 

I guess the real question to ask in this is if the fish see him as a starter, can he be better than West?

Well West and Vandy arent about to pitch any CG for us and i don't think he will either. I guess the question is who will give us a better 6innings Smoltz, West, or Vandy. I dont see him pitching in our Pen if he wouldnt do it for the sox. You also cant for get Anibal is doing well in the minors.

If the Red Soxs aren't willing to trade him to a contender in the AL then that probably means they think he can come back and pitch well so he'd probably be dealt to an NL Team.

 

I'd love to see what he can do with us, either as a spot starter or long relief man in the bullpen but he could probably mentor our young pitchers and hopefully helping them become better and smarter pitchers.

 

If he's coming cheap we should might as well give it a shot, I'd take him as a starter over Esteban Yan any day.

Smoltz as I understand it wants to be a starter, does not want to be relegated to the pen. Will he? I suspect in the end to stay in MLB he will pitch in relief. Some of his splits are troubling but you know, can the guy go out there five or six more times this summer and contribute - I think it's worth considering. I'm sure the FO is reviewing tape and talking to scouts and cross-checkers who have seen more of him in their work for other teams. The big problem is against teams like the Phillies who are so lefty dominant he's been getting killed and it's hard to see how we could work the rotation around the fact lefties are just murdering the guy since not just the Phillies but any team he faces are going to load up their lineups to attack his weakness.

 

edit - added: Missed the first time I skimmed Rodriquez' piece that a consideration might be for Smoltz to close which conceivably in certain circumstances gives Fredi more control over whether he faces righties or lefties.

We need a 5th starter anyway...What the heck!

Anibal should be coming back soon though i believe, and he's been pitching very well down in the minors

I don't think it would hurt to give it a shot, whether it be as a starter or reliever. It's obvious that we need some help right now anyway.

Anibal should be coming back soon though i believe, and he's been pitching very well down in the minors

 

He was dominant for 7 inning in AA last night. Marlins want him for one more rehab then he is back up.

 

Around Aug 20-22nd I believe he will be back with the big club.

Anibal should be coming back soon though i believe, and he's been pitching very well down in the minors

 

And I trust Anibal even less than West and RVH in a playoff race. He is constantly hurt, when he does make starts he has been pretty bad, and rarely gives you more than 5 innings. Dont know why anyone would put faith in him at this point.

Anibal has been coming back from the DL forever.

Only to find him self right back on it after a start or two.

Very inconsistent with his health.

So say RVH and West dont work out and we sign smoltz..the rotation owuld be

 

JJ

Nolasco

Volstad

Sanchez

Smoltz

 

not to shabby if you ask me...and if smoltz doesn't work out simply put him in BP...

I guess Beinfest and Co. Don't read our posts lol, whatever apparently it is a cheap deal, what can hurt more than pitchers that can only seem to go 3-4 innings for us, and am not bashing Nolasco, am talking about RVH who can't seem to keep his pitch count down.

WOOD was optioned today. This can only mean that we are making a move. Nobody is being called up, cause it would have been announced already. Are we nabbing somebody from the outside? Smoltz?....he is still with BoSox until further notice, so could this mean Harang? HAHA :mis2

I say bullpen. He showed he couldn't handle the starting rotation in Boston, so the pen might be his resting place.

WOOD was optioned today. This can only mean that we are making a move. Nobody is being called up, cause it would have been announced already. Are we nabbing somebody from the outside? Smoltz?....he is still with BoSox until further notice, so could this mean Harang? HAHA :mis2

 

We called up Leroux. It was announced hours ago.

I say bullpen. He showed he couldn't handle the starting rotation in Boston, so the pen might be his resting place.

 

 

But what I don't understand is that if not for the starting rotation than why would he come here to go to the pen when he solely refused to do it for Boston? I see this happening for the 5th spot in the rotation. If not this won't happen. The front office might contact him once he is cut lose and the phone call will be brief, front office: Smoltz will you pitch out of our bullpen? Smoltz: No. Our front office: Ok, sorry we bothered you. :hat

I say bullpen. He showed he couldn't handle the starting rotation in Boston, so the pen might be his resting place.

 

 

But what I don't understand is that if not for the starting rotation than why would he come here to go to the pen when he solely refused to do it for Boston? I see this happening for the 5th spot in the rotation. If not this won't happen. The front office might contact him once he is cut lose and the phone call will be brief, front office: Smoltz will you pitch out of our bullpen? Smoltz: No. Our front office: Ok, sorry we bothered you. :hat

 

Well we have Anibal coming back in about a week and he has been great in the minors so we might not need Smoltz but you're right I highly doubt he would pitch for us in the pen if he didn't do it for Boston even when he knew he was struggling.

I think we are getting ahead of ourselves, the report only stated we are among teams interested. Among one of the teams are the Dodgers who are clearly the better fit, they have been seeking a 4-5 starter longer than us, and might just give John what he desires. We on the other hand will be getting Mr. Sanchez back, and will be asking Smoltz to pitch out of the pen, it won't happen. Unless John just wanted out of Boston and wasn't saying so, which is already an integrity issue which he has never had. I hope we get him, he can be a good pitcher out of the pen against right handers, but chances of him accepting a lesser assignment isn't very likely.

I say bullpen. He showed he couldn't handle the starting rotation in Boston, so the pen might be his resting place.

 

 

But what I don't understand is that if not for the starting rotation than why would he come here to go to the pen when he solely refused to do it for Boston? I see this happening for the 5th spot in the rotation. If not this won't happen. The front office might contact him once he is cut lose and the phone call will be brief, front office: Smoltz will you pitch out of our bullpen? Smoltz: No. Our front office: Ok, sorry we bothered you. :hat

 

Who knows who's right on this one but I think if Smoltz winds up being cut loose, *and* the Marlins' organizationally (scouts, cross-checkers, various sages they employ to watch a lot of baseball and throw their two cents in when asked) think he has anything left they will do hard for him. As Juan Rodriguez points out he has a history with Fredi, and reading between the lines the impression I get is the Red Sox not only wanted him to pitch in relief, they wanted him to do in the minor leagues AND take a pay cut too (actually a contract concession), none of which would happen here because once he's cut, the bleeping Red Sox are on the hook for every penny they owe him (less the prorated minimum of course but at this point in the season relatively, it's chicken-feed, almost not worth mentioning) and Smoltz would have some options here that he might have elsewhere including seeing what he can do in the starting rotation, if not pitching in relief or even being a spot closer but still getting every penny he's owed.

 

I must admit the idea of spending John Henry's money really appeals to me. Really it does. And if by some twist of fate it helps us make it to the playoffs and the Red Sox not, all the better.

 

 

edit ...might "not" have elsewhere ... above

If Smoltz is willing to work from the pen, and can be half as good as he was as a closer in Atlanta, I say do it. Sure Nunez and Lindstrom throw hard, but the ball always seems to fly back in the opposite direction just as hard, even the outs. Smoltz was lights out in the 9th for Atlanta and we are in desperate need of a lock down guy in that spot. Worth a shot, especially with Boston picking up most of the salary.

I say bullpen. He showed he couldn't handle the starting rotation in Boston, so the pen might be his resting place.

 

 

But what I don't understand is that if not for the starting rotation than why would he come here to go to the pen when he solely refused to do it for Boston? I see this happening for the 5th spot in the rotation. If not this won't happen. The front office might contact him once he is cut lose and the phone call will be brief, front office: Smoltz will you pitch out of our bullpen? Smoltz: No. Our front office: Ok, sorry we bothered you. :hat

 

Who knows who's right on this one but I think if Smoltz winds up being cut loose, *and* the Marlins' organizationally (scouts, cross-checkers, various sages they employ to watch a lot of baseball and throw their two cents in when asked) think he has anything left they will do hard for him. As Juan Rodriguez points out he has a history with Fredi, and reading between the lines the impression I get is the Red Sox not only wanted him to pitch in relief, they wanted him to do in the minor leagues AND take a pay cut too (actually a contract concession), none of which would happen here because once he's cut, the bleeping Red Sox are on the hook for every penny they owe him (less the prorated minimum of course but at this point in the season relatively, it's chicken-feed, almost not worth mentioning) and Smoltz would have some options here that he might have elsewhere including seeing what he can do in the starting rotation, if not pitching in relief or even being a spot closer but still getting every penny he's owed.

 

I must admit the idea of spending John Henry's money really appeals to me. Really it does. And if by some twist of fate it helps us make it to the playoffs and the Red Sox not, all the better.

 

I agree with my theory but I also see yours as a possibility. :thumbup

I would love to see smoltz in the bullpen he could really help and teach nunez and lindstrom . and help us alot to if he gets healthy .

his pitching style suits him better at landshark rather than fenway. so I think he'll be much better for us.

Why do we want a guy who's career is basically over, and who had an 8+ ERA, anywhere near this team??

 

Can we hire him as a pitching coach instead?

We just enjoy collecting ancient artifacts. You know we are low-budget, so what do low budget people do? We buy from thrift stores. We get those same docker pants your doctor wheres and buy em used, and they end up looking great. Same thing with Smoltz, he sucked for them, he will turn it around with us! :whistle

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