The Boston Red Sox appear to be on the verge of signing both John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli to one year deals with a heavy emphasis on performance incentives.

Smoltz and the Sox have reportedly agreed to a one year deal for the veteran pitcher who is coming off shoulder surgery last June. The deal will pay the long time Brave a guaranteed $5.5 million and include incentives that could be worth up to $5 million more. Smoltz had said that he'd like to finish his career in Atlanta, the only team he's played for in his 21 year major league career, but after getting only 5 starts for his $14 million salary last year, the Braves were apparently a bit gun shy. Atlanta was unwilling to offer anything more than $3 million guaranteed and had made it known that they were prepared to let Smotlz sign elsewhere.

The Sox were also reportedly ready to give an incentive-laden one year deal to outfielder Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli, who spent 5 seasons with the AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays is attempting to mount a comeback after suffering from a bizzare disease that left him extremely fatigued and largely unable to perform. However, reports recently suggested that he may have been misdiagnosed and that he may well be able to continue his career. He'd certainly add depth and speed to the Red Sox outfield if he can manage to stay healthy.

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Atlanta Braves are prepared to lose long time pitcher John Smoltz if another team is willing to give the veteran hurler a guaranteed deal. Smoltz has had a long list of surgeries on his throwing arm, most recently a shoulder surgery in June, and the Braves are apparently only willing to give him an incentive laden deal.

After paying $14 million for just 5 starts last year, you can hardly fault the Braves for being gun shy this time around. However, Smoltz did put up an impressive 2.57 ERA before losing the rest of the year to injury and the 41 year old was said to be impressive in a recent rehab session in which he threw off a mound for the first time.

The Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox have expressed interest in the long time Brave, who may not be ready until May, and it's hard to imagine some team not offering him a guaranteed deal in this starting starved free agent market. If Smoltz does leave, he'll be the last of Atlanta's big three to finish their careers elsewhere, following Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine's lead.

The future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux has announced that he is retiring after 23 seasons in which he won 18 Gold Glove awards, 4 straight Cy Young awards, and 355 games.

Maddux was known for his impecable control and played for 4 teams during his storied career. He'll be best remembered though, as the anchor of an impressive Atlanta Braves rotation that included John Smoltz and Tom Glavine (also a 300 game winner) and won the World Series in 1995.

The 42 year old righty finished up with a 3.16 ERA and fittingly won his last regular season game, going six innings and giving up only 1 run to the Padres who had traded him to the Dodgers just weeks before. The veteran made 3 relief appearances for the Dodgers in the playoffs, giving up no earned runs over 4 innings with 3 strikeouts.