Braves fixture, Smoltz, opts for Red Sox

ATLANTA -- After more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz is likely to finish his stellar career wearing a different uniform.

In a stunning end to one of baseball's longest runs, Smoltz reached preliminary agreement on a contract with the Boston Red Sox after failing to work out a deal to return for his 22nd season with the Braves.

A person familiar with the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity because the final paperwork had not been completed, said Smoltz will sign a guaranteed deal with the Red Sox worth about $5 million and also have the possibility to earn another $5 million in performance bonuses. The deal was expected to be finalized later Thursday.

Smoltz issued a statement through his agent and said he had little choice except to talk with other teams after hearing what the Braves planned to offer.

"I was going to withhold comment until the announcement of my signing with a new team, but I now feel the need to clear up any misconceptions and inaccuracies about the contract negotiations between myself and the Atlanta Braves," he said. "There were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams."

The Red Sox also agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Rocco Baldelli, but clearly the deal with Smoltz is the biggest splash yet for a team that lost to Tampa Bay in the AL Championship Series and is looking to keep pace with the rival Yankees, who've doled out $423.5 million in contracts to three players after missing the playoffs last season.

Smoltz, the only pitcher in baseball history with 200 wins and 150 saves, had pitched for the Braves since 1988. The 41-year-old is coming off major shoulder surgery that sidelined him for most of last season, but feels healthy enough to pitch at least one more year.

Smoltz's decision is a startling development given repeated statements that he wanted to spend his entire big-league tenure in Atlanta. He was an unknown minor leaguer when acquired from Detroit in 1987 for Doyle Alexander, but went on to become a cornerstone of Braves' teams that won a record 14 straight division titles from 1991 to 2005, including a World Series title in 1995.

Hoffman to join Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- Crank up the AC/DC, Milwaukee: The Brewers have landed career saves leader Trevor Hoffman, solving a shaky closer situation that could have gone into spring training with no clear-cut favorite.

Hoffman's agent, Rick Thurman, credited Milwaukee for being "diligent and aggressive" in its pursuit of Hoffman after Brewers players called to recruit him.

Hoffman agreed to a one-year contract worth $6 million Thursday, a person familiar with the negotiations said. Hoffman can make an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

Hoffman, 41, has pitched for the Padres since 1993. He converted 30 of 34 chances last season, increasing his saves record to 554.

-- The Associated Press