Smoltz to Join Cardinals

Well, that didn't take long. Less than two weeks after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox following the final drubbing he'd take in a Boston uniform, John Smoltz has found a new team, agreeing to a deal he will sign with the St. Louis Cardinals today, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Dispatch.

Smoltz will become the Cardinals' fifth starter almost immediately, assuming there wasn't a 12th-hour waiver claim put on Smoltz by another team (he was due to come off the waiver wire at noon). St. Louis will pay a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary, with Boston on the hook for the rest of Smoltz's $5.5 million contract.

According to Strauss, two former Smoltz teammates in Atlanta -- infielder Mark DeRosa and fellow starting pitcher Adam Wainwright -- lobbied long and hard to convince the team to make a push for Smoltz, though manager Tony LaRussa was also reportedly high on the idea himself.

The Smoltz addition might be the ultimate no-risk, high-reward move for St. Louis. If Smoltz can regain any of his Hall of Fame shoo-in magic back in the National League, the Cardinals might just be the team to beat. If he can't, well, then St. Louis is out less than $100,000. That's less than a night of beer sales at home game against the Cubs.

What do people think? Is this a good move by the Cardinals, or did Smoltz's Boston stint expose him as too old and fragile to be a major contributor to a postseason hopeful?