Smoltz Signs With St. Louis

Only 48 hours after formally being released by the Boston Red Sox, future Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.

At the moment it is not clear whether Smoltz will be used as a starter or a reliever. I'm inclined to think he'll be given a chance to be the Cards number five starter. Todd Wellemeyer was demoted to the bullpen earlier this month but Mitchell Boggs has been ineffective in his place.

During his brief tenure with the Red Sox, Smoltz started eight games and went 2-5 with an atrocious 8.33 ERA. Smoltz joined the Red Sox in the off season after having pitched for the Atlanta Braves for 20 seasons.

The Cardinals currently enjoy a six game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Thus Smoltz doesn't have to be Cy Young out there.

Then again perhaps some of Julio Lugo's good fortune will rub off onto Smoltz. The much maligned Lugo was released by the Red Sox last month and was picked up by the Cards five days later. In 21 games with the Redbirds, Lugo is hitting .343.

As an aside, Lugo was my roommate Christopher's favorite Red Sox player. When the Sox let him go, Christopher became a devotee of Smoltz. At this rate, he might soon become a Cardinals fan.