Smoltz skids out the door

The John Smoltz Experiment has officially fizzled. The future Hall-o'-Famer has been designated for assignment, meaning that in the next 10 days he'll be claimed on waivers, sent down or released. Says the Globe:

Smoltz, who went 2-5 with an 8.32 earned-run average this season, could also retire. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein flew to New York this morning to deliver the news to Smoltz in person. "I think [that] was an important thing to do," said manager Terry Francona. "He met with Smoltzie face-to-face, told him what we were going to do, told him to go home and take a deep breath."

(Smoltzie?!)

Billy Traber, who relieved Smoltz in last night's catastrophe, was also designated for assignment. The moves make room for Junichi Tazawa, "who had never pitched in professional baseball until this season" and has pitched twice in Triple-A.