Update 1/29 00:26: Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that there is “increased momentum” towards a deal.

Update 1/28 14:18: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated Tweets: #mets definitely like smoltz, especially as a tutor. actually, they might need a tutor as much as they need a pitcher.

1/28 10:35: There have been discussions this month that free agent pitcher John Smoltz could join the New York Mets as a starting pitcher. Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News suggests that Smoltz could follow the Pedro Martinez script of 2009 and wait until mid-season to join a team. Martinez waited until July to sign with the Phillies who eventually made it to the World Series.

This approach accomplishes two things: it will preserve Smoltz from the wear and tear of a full season and it will also give him a better indicator to which teams are playoff contenders.