Sign of the Times

Jason Giambi was released today and John Smoltz DFA'd.

Giambi was batting .193 and had an OBP in the .330s. Smoltz, well, we know what he did last night.

At one point in time both were among the elite; Smoltz is widely still considered a first-ballot Hall of Fame candidate while Giambi has had some not-so-great moments with PEDs and golden thongs, but he did spend seven seasons in pinstripes, attempting to fill the shoes of the now-legendary clutch Tino Martinez.

More and more of the stars from the late 90s and 00s are nearing the end.

Sad, sure, but in their wake we get to see guys like Mark Teixeira and Jair Jurrjens.

So, as Dr. Seuss would say, don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

John Smoltz looking Saux-y

In some non-Yankee news:


Legendary pitcher and likely Hall of Famer, John Smoltz is set to sign with the Boston Red Sox.

The move has a potential enormous payoff--when healthy, Smoltz is still an excellent pitcher--but Smoltz is entering his age 42 season and spent much of last year battling numerous arm problems.

If Smoltz stays healthy, it could get the Red Sox the same sort of marginal wins that the Yankees are looking for with Mark Teixiera; in a division as tough as the AL East, an extra three or four wins is the difference between a party in October and moping on the sofa.

Even so, if one remembers 1996 and 1999, it's not as though the Yankees have never beaten Smoltz...

The Sox have also recently signed former Dodger Brad Penny and are close to announcing a deal with former Rays' outfielder Rocco Baldelli, so it appears that Theo Epstein and Co. have been on a gimp-ish kick of late. (No offense to Baldelli or Penny, I wish them well).

Or, perhaps, the Smoltz signing could turn into a Curt Schilling redux.

Time will tell.

The signings of Baldelli and Smoltz are set to be announced at tomorrow's Baseball Writers' dinner.