The Cardinals, Dodgers, Mets and Mariners are among the teams that have expressed preliminary interest in free-agent right-hander John Smoltz, according to a major-league source.
Smoltz, 42, is open to starting or relieving, and some teams have inquired about him as a closer, the source said. The Astros, Rangers and Orioles also have shown interest in the 22-year veteran.
The Dodgers represent a potentially intriguing fit — the team wants to add veteran starting pitching as it braces for the potential losses of free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf and right-handers Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland.