Boston Red Sox Adding John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli?

Rumors on various media outlets on Wednesday evening are hinting that the Boston Red Sox are on the verge of adding two veterans to their stable of talented players.

The first rumor is that lifetime Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz will agree to a one-year deal with a base salary of $5.5 million, with allowances for another $5 million in incentives.

The second rumor is that former Tampa Bay Ray Rocco Baldelli will sign with the Red Sox as well. Terms have not yet been identified, but Baldelli was reportedly in Boston to get medical tests done already earlier this week.

The Red Sox have already signed former Dodger and Marlin starter Brad Penny to a one-year, $5 million contract as GM Theo Epstein continues to show a propensity to have more than enough starting pitchers on the roster in March. Smoltz and Penny join Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, and Tim Wakefield as potential starters in Manager Terry Francona's rotation.

The only problem with all these arms is the one position the Sox haven't filled yet: Catcher. Captain Jason Varitek is still a free agent, and the only move the Sox have made this winter was acquiring Josh Bard, who figures to be a backup.

The additions of Smoltz, Baldelli, and Penny open a number of intriguing trade candidates on Boston's roster. The most logical player to be out the door would be center fielder Coco Crisp, who has been involved in rumors to seemingly half of Major League Baseball. Young Jacoby Ellsbury has taken over the bulk of the playing time in center, while Jason Bay will be in left, and JD Drew returns in right.

Another name that might pop into various discussion is Clay Bucholz, a talented young starter who has run out of room on the major league roster. If the Sox cannot get Varitek under contract, Crisp and Bucholz might be used to acquire a new starting catcher via trade.