"The final image of John Smoltz's career may be of him on the Yankee Stadium mound searching for answers in the marathon fourth inning Thursday night.

The Red Sox designated the 42-year-old right-hander for assignment yesterday, hours after the Yankees battered him for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings. It could be the end of Smoltz's career. He has 10 days to either accept a demotion to the minors or the team must release him, trade him or put him on waivers.

Boston general manager Theo Epstein flew here to deliver the news to Smoltz in person at the team hotel. Smoltz was not at Yankee Stadium last night, though his jersey still hung in his locker.

"[It's] never easy to tell someone that they're designated for assignment, especially a Hall of Fame pitcher like that," Epstein said. "It was certainly time to try something different. John understood. We asked him just to go home for a few days and think about what he wants to do, think about if he can still help." "