John Smoltz of Braves has managed to come to a preliminary agreement on a contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Smoltz will sign a guaranteed deal with the Red Sox worth about $5 million and also have the possibility of earning another $5 million in performance bonuses.

Smoltz will likely to finish his career with Braves, balked from giving him more than a $3 million deal. In which he become a cornerstone of Braves' teams that won a record 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005.

Smoltz, the only pitcher in baseball history with 200 wins and 150 saves, had pitched for the Braves since 1988. The 41-year-old is coming off major shoulder surgery that sidelined him for most of last season, but feels healthy enough to pitch at least one more year.

The Braves were reluctant to make a deal with the aging pitcher, especially coming off a dismal season in which they missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.

Smoltz, Boston deal was expected to be finalized by late Thursday.

Thursday, Boston also agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Rocco Baldelli.