Free agent pitcher John Smoltz is drawing considerable interest on the open market, the Boston Globe is reporting. Smoltz continues to work out as he weighs his options to stay as a starter or become a one or two inning reliever.
While he is open to both - after determining that he did not want to come back as a reliever with the Sox - it seems more likely he would return as a starter, given the strain on the arm in the bullpen.
Smoltz hopes to sign in the next week, which is good for interested teams, who could go on a brief minor league assignment and join the team when the rosters expand on September 1st. The Dodgers, Marlins, and Cardinals are interested in Smoltz, but the Cardinals appear to be the most serious.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called the agent for free agent pitcher John Smoltz on Monday to convey what one official described as "very serious" interest in the 42-year-old righthander.
Whether Smoltz has an impact on his next team is to be determined. But Smoltz is going to need to have a new approach with his second team of the 2009 season if he wants to have success.