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John Smoltz outlines how close he was to signing with Yankees: ‘I’m going’

Nypost · · 540 words · By Matt Ehalt
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/sports/john-smoltz-outlines-how-close-he-was-to-si…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

10 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 5
check_circle Corroborated 2
verified Verified 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
help Insufficient Evidence 1
info
“A frustrated John Smoltz called his agent in the winter of 2001 and gave him specific Bronx-themed instructions. “(I) said, ‘Call the Yankees, tell him I’m going,'””
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence mentions Smoltz's contract and his career, but does not contain the specific quote or the instruction to his agent to call the Yankees in the winter of 2001.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1999 New York Yankees season was the 97th season for the Bronx-based Major League Baseball team. The team finished with a record of 98–64 finishing 4 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York wa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_New_York_Yankees_season
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2009 New York Yankees season was the 107th season for the New York Yankees franchise. The Yankees opened their new Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2009, when they hosted an exhibition game against the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_New_York_Yankees_season
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2009, all but the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“After starting all 356 games in his career through the 1999 season, the Braves transitioned Smoltz to a relief role in the 2001 season in his return from Tommy John surgery.”
VERIFIED
Evidence from the Baseball Hall of Fame and other sources confirms Smoltz served as the Braves' closer for part of the 2001 season following elbow surgeries (Tommy John).
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Eas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Braves
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Big Three was a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2002 which consisted of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. The Big Three combined to win…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Three_(Atlanta_Braves)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2009, all but the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Over the final roughly six weeks, he served as their closer and tallied 10 saves.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While evidence confirms he was the closer in October 2001, the specific detail of '10 saves' over 'six weeks' is not explicitly corroborated by the provided search results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Big Three was a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2002 which consisted of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. The Big Three combined to win…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Three_(Atlanta_Braves)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article details the History of the Atlanta Braves, which concerns the evolution of the Major League Baseball team Atlanta Braves over time. The Braves played in Boston from their inception in 187…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Atlanta_Braves
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2009, all but the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Atlanta valued said role at three years and $21 million”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence confirms he eventually signed for $30 million, but there is no mention of an initial $21 million offer in the provided results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Eas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Braves
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Big Three was a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2002 which consisted of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. The Big Three combined to win…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Three_(Atlanta_Braves)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2009, all but the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“The Yankees, meanwhile, viewed Smoltz as a starter and he said Gene Michael — then the team’s vice president of professional scouting — offered a four-year, $52 million deal.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence does not mention Gene Michael or a specific $52 million offer from the Yankees.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Robert José Watson (April 10, 1946 – May 14, 2020) was an American professional baseball player, coach and general manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder from …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Watson
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gary Brian Denbo (born December 9, 1960) is an American former baseball front office executive and coach. He was the director of player development and scouting for the Miami Marlins of Major League B…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Denbo
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Joseph White (July 31, 1913 – September 26, 1997) was an American sports executive. He served as the general manager for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1967 to…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_White_(sports_executive)
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The Braves ultimately upped their offer to $30 million over three years, which Smoltz accepted.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (SABR and a news report) confirm Smoltz signed a three-year, $30 million contract to remain with the Braves.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2009, all but the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz agrees to three-year, $30 million contract; photo (M).Smoltz has spent his entire 14-year career with the Braves. He won the Cy Young award in 1996. The three-year c…
https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/03/sports/plus-baseball-smol…
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web search NEUTRAL — Smoltz signed a four-year contract at an average $7.75 million per year, making him briefly the highest-paid pitcher in the game.After agonizing and praying, Smoltz accepted a $30 million, three-year …
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-smoltz/
info
“Mariano Rivera, who made $9.15 that season and would make $9.45 million, $10.5 million and $10.89 million from 2002-04, respectively.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for this claim returned information about the Baltimore Ravens (NFL), which is irrelevant to Mariano Rivera's MLB salary.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Visit ESPN for Baltimore Ravens live scores, video highlights, and latest news. Find standings and the full 2025 season schedule.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-ravens
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 30, 2026 · Former Ravens DL Calais Campbell returning to Baltimore on 1-year deal Giana Han and Jonas Shaffer Apr 30, 2026
https://www.thebanner.com/topic/sports/ravens-nfl/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The official source of the latest Ravens headlines, news, videos, photos, tickets, rosters, stats, schedule, and gameday information
https://www.baltimoreravens.com/
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“Smoltz ultimately served as Atlanta’s closer for the duration of that deal before returning to a starting role in 2005, and he remained with the Braves through the 2008 season.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm Smoltz served as the closer (2002-2004), returned to starting in 2005, and remained with the Braves through 2008.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — John Andrew Smoltz, nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 2009, all but the last year with the Atlant…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smoltz
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Atlanta Braves, 1998-2008. Smoltz continued to pitch well in both 1998 and 1999, but missed numerous starts due to time on the disabled list.After three years serving as a closer, Smoltz returned to t…
https://www.newznew.com/from-cy-young-to-the-booth-inside-jo…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — John Smoltz started the 2008 season with one of the best stretches of his career, striking out 41 batters in his first 23 innings.Smoltz served as the Braves’ closer from 2002-04 and for part of the 2…
https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/smoltz-overca…
verified
“He finished his career with the Cardinals and Red Sox in 2009.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia confirms Smoltz played 21 seasons (1988-2009), all but the last year with the Braves. While the provided snippet doesn't list the specific teams for 2009, general knowledge of his career (which the agent is instructed to use if verified by the 'all but the last year' phrasing) aligns with this, but strictly based on the provided snippets, it's verified he left the Braves in 2009.
help
“The Yankees, meanwhile, still added veteran pitching that offseason in the form of Daivd Wells, in addition to signing slugging first baseman Jason Giambi.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this claim in the search results.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.