The Boston Red Sox were baseball's big gamblers this winter.
Now, they're cashing in with wins.
And more might be coming.
Having been beaten out by the rival New York Yankees for free-agent slugger Mark Teixeira in December, the Red Sox took a series of calculated risks on four players with checkered medical charts.
They signed pitchers John Smoltz, Brad Penny, and Takashi Saito and outfielder Rocco Baldelli to incentive-laden contracts with relatively low base salaries.
It cost the Sox about $13.5 million in guaranteed money - less than the $17 million the Phillies are paying Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins not to play for them this season - to sign Smoltz, Penny, Saito and Baldelli. The results, so far, have been good, and that's before Smoltz has even thrown a pitch.
Penny, who had a bad shoulder and a bad attitude with the Dodgers last season, is 6-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 71 innings over 13 starts. His performance has been roughly comparable to that of A.J. Burnett, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million deal with the Yankees in the off-season. Burnett was 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 802/3 innings over his first 13 starts. He is making $16.5 million this season. Penny's base salary is $5 million.
Saito was an effective closer for the Dodgers before coming down with a tender elbow last season and not receiving a contract offer from the club. The Sox signed the 39-year-old righthander for $2.5 million, and he has been a major contributor on the best relief staff in the majors.
Baldelli, who suffers from a condition (mitochondrial disorder) that can sap his energy, became a free agent after Tampa Bay bought out his contract. The Phillies met with Baldelli and considered signing him but backed off because they were concerned about his medical condition. The Sox signed Baldelli for a base salary of $500,000, and he has been a solid extra outfielder.
Boston's biggest gamble - and possibly biggest payoff - was with Smoltz. The veteran righthander and former NL Cy Young winner made just five starts - and none after April 27 - for Atlanta last season and had shoulder surgery. The Braves tried to re-sign him with a base of $2.5 million. Boston offered a base of $5.5 million and Smoltz left the city where he had been a pitching icon.
Smoltz has completed his rehab. He is scheduled to start for the Red Sox on Thursday at Washington.
If Smoltz can get back to anything close to top form - and at age 42 with an arm that's felt the pinch of a scalpel five times, that's a big if - he will give the Red Sox' already deep staff another weapon. He is one of the greatest post-season pitchers ever, having posted a 15-4 record and a 2.65 ERA in 40 games, and you know that's appealing to the Red Sox, who always plan on playing in October.
An effective Smoltz would also allow the Red Sox to use some of their depth in a trade, possibly for the shortstop they have been looking for. Their best chip might be Penny. The pitching-needy Phillies have an interest, and the two sides have talked about a deal that could involve infield prospect Jason Donald, who is recovering from what team officials have called minor knee surgery to repair a cartilage problem.
Signings such as Penny, Saito, Baldelli, and Smoltz are smart, but they are not for every team. Boston is a high-revenue club that can afford to take these chances. Hit on them and you look good. Miss on them and - oh, well, what's a few million bucks when you've had 500 straight sellouts?
So far, the Red Sox' gambles are looking good.
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