"I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team, but I now...

"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," [John] Smoltz said.

"There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams."

Smoltz, Braves differ on contract offer | MLB.com
I guess Smoltz doesn't like this "homeboy upstairs" either. I'm still kind of miffed at both sides that so much is being made about this being difference in money. I guess the Braves position was that they thought Smoltz would think there was more at stake than money, and would therefore take less. Smoltz didn't see it that way.

5 months ago gondeee Comment 34 comments 0 recs |

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oh no, john smoltz is motivated by money like every other athlete on the planet. big shock.

unless of course, the leaked report of our offer to him was legit…in which case, he knows he’s done, and wanted the most money he could get up front.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 8, 2009 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

call for level-headedness

i know i’m the last person to call for this, but i will give it a shot.

Smoltz is going to be 42 this coming season. He’s coming off multiple surgeries and he’s a fastball slider guy. He’s a freak of nature to have lasted this long. He’s also has a great desire to win and dominate. He just makes a lot more sense for the BoSox right now who just need a few more pieces to make a world series run, and have more money to throw around. John Smoltz isn’t going to get the Braves into the playoffs this year, but he can have that kind of impact for the bosox. So they offered more money. That’s fine, I can wrap my head around that and I think most of you should be able to do that to.

From an emotional/moral standpoint, I can also see how it would be difficult to see such a prominent Brave leave the team. It’s weird for me too. But this kind of thing happens – the game isn’t all about tradition, loyalty and honor, as much as we might wish it did. This is one case when these values are just in too much at odds with the business of baseball and winning.

So please, don’t attack Frank Wren for this. He’s done a great job so far, making the best of the JS Tex trade, and getting max value for Renteria. He also made a great non-signing in the Burnett case (you may not agree with that now, but you will). Failing to trade for Peavy is the only questionable non-move in my opinion, and honestly, I think it’s about 50-50 if that’s going to turn out to be a good non-move in the long run.

by son.of.sourman on Jan 8, 2009 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well said, although we’ll agree to disagree about Peavy.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 8, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When in Rome.

by jjcollins on Jan 8, 2009 9:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

First time I’ve ever agreed with anything you’ve said.

by cbwilk on Jan 8, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I keep going back and forth between raging at the Atlanta FO, at Smoltz for leaving, and at resignation that it happened and we should move on.

But I think I’ll agree with my first level headed assesment. Our FO dropped the ball, and he should be pitching with the Braves. If it was really about the money then there’s no excuse for letting him leave over a few million when we’ve publicly stated that we have upwards of $30 million left in our budget.

Think about it. Its a one year deal. This does not tie us down for the future when all of our young studs are up. We have all of that money in the bank. Most people on this board have publicly stated that our contention chances are slim and none next year. Even at a $10 million investment (assuming he hits all of his qualifiers), that still leaves $20million…plenty of money to sign Derek Lowe and then sign Kawakami or acquire an outfielder. Again, if this was simply about the money, then I think the FO needs to find a way to not let this happen.

I’ll wait to see what happens the rest of this offseason, but if Wren invests these few million dollars in a poor fashion, I’ll lose faith in his abilities.

by soup du jour on Jan 8, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hell.

I wish he wanted to stay here and I wish he would retire a Brave, but I wish Maddux had retired a Brave, probably moreso. Unfortunately baseball is a money making business and guys like Smoltz need to go for what they can get. I don’t think we were in a situation to pay him what he wanted, which is likely more than he’s worth, unless he manages to make it through the injury, which seems unlikely honestly. Everyone should prepare for the departure of Chipper though, because it will happen unless he is willing to play here for nothing. He’s getting old, making a bunch of money, and he’s an injury risk every year. It’s a shame to see the guys we’ve watched for so long leave, but that’s the way of baseball. Hell, Hank Aaron left.

by Perrinbar on Jan 8, 2009 4:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What a loyal ballplayer

by dabraves on Jan 8, 2009 4:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Now that Im more educated on the situation

Maybe the braves are the ones not loyal..this is a shock and it hurts

by dabraves on Jan 8, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand he goes for the most money or whatever, but really, does he really need it. I can see if a playeras hitting free agency for the first time, but John Smoltz has been with the Braves for 20 years and does he really need that extra copuple million. This reminds me a lot of Favre going to the Jets.

by SayHeyWerd on Jan 8, 2009 4:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ok i understand why Smoltz left, its more the Braves front office than Smotlz not wanting to sign because of contract. Like chipper said, he earned the respect to get paid well and not be expected to sign a significantly lower deal just because hes been here a while. Frank Wren, you fuckin suck so far bud.

by SayHeyWerd on Jan 8, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Both sides screwed up here

I know what Chipper was saying, what is a couple to the FO who supposedly has about 30 million left to spend, but like SayHeyWerd said, the same could be said for Smoltz. Smoltz could have said to himself that its only a couple million and I have plenty of money. My emotions tell me to be mad, but my brain tells me John Smoltz doesn’t financially make sense for this team.

by MatM on Jan 8, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m the same way. Wren should have offered more. Yet Smoltz should have realized he got paid megabucks last year for little work.
Everybody’s to blame.
Including Francoeur

by Bobby Cocks on Jan 8, 2009 6:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Especially Francoeur.

/fixed.

by mburris1 on Jan 8, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and bigjoe

by Bobby Cocks on Jan 8, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, a guy 700 miles away from atlanta had everything to do with this

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 8, 2009 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Admitting your mistake is the first step. Congrats.

by Bobby Cocks on Jan 8, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i’m also the reason burnett didn’t sign, because his wife wanted to keep me within driving distance.

i guess you can thank me for that one

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 8, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Anyway you can land us Dunn? I wonder if he and Sheets have nailed the wives of every GM in MLB. I can’t understand why else they’re not signed by now.

by Bobby Cocks on Jan 8, 2009 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

all of my mojo is focused elsewhere right now, lemme get back to you uh..once the current situation is over with. not gonna say what it is out of fear of a jinx

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 8, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ravens suck, and so does the city of Baltimore. Ray Lewis is a murderer.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 9, 2009 8:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The above comments are true.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 9, 2009 9:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know how people can buy custom NFL jerseys? And how lots of times, certain words are banned from being printed? Like you can’t get a Falcons #7 jersey with “HERPES,” “MEXICO,” or “R. MEXICO” on it, because all of the above are true.

Two words that work with a Ravens #52 jersey: “MURDERER” and “STABBER” I actually have a buddy that bought “STABBER.”

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 9, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

HOW BOUT DEM FALCONS!?

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 9, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

FRONT OFFICE NEEDS TO RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. EVERYONE OF THEM!!!

BRAVES “leaders” suck!

They lied to us, plain and simple. There was NO comparable offer. They may have had our support over Raffy, but not Smoltz.

This reminds me of another group of A-holes that lead the NY Mets back in the 70’s when they lost Tom Seaver – they thought he was being greedy (a-holes) – to the Reds. I gave up on the Mets then, I’m giving up on the A-hole-Braves now.

Goodbye Cable guy and Terry “the Quirk” , John Showboat-holtz, and Frank Wreck (what you’re doing to the team). A-holes forever!

by stoph on Jan 8, 2009 7:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs