Smoltz

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves exercised their option Friday on the contract of former Cy Young award winner John Smoltz for next season.

Smoltz, 33, missed all of last season with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right elbow.

The Braves will pay Smoltz $8 million next season -- still a bargain for a veteran pitcher.

Smoltz is 157-113 with a 3.35 ERA in 356 career games spanning more than 11 seasons. He has also been the Braves' toughest postseason pitcher with 12 playoff wins.

The Braves won the National League East this season, but were tossed from the playoffs by the St. Louis Cardinals in three straight games in which Braves pitchers gave up 24 runs.

Smoltz's elbow troubles began in 1994 when he underwent arthroscopic surgery during the players' strike. He came back stronger than ever, winning 24 games and the Cy Young Award two years later, but he didn't get to enjoy his success for long.

The right-hander was on the disabled list twice in 1998 and twice again in 1999 because of elbow trouble, but still has managed 28 victories in his last 55 starts.

Smoltz had "Tommy John" ligament transplant surgery March 23.

The Braves also announced Friday that the team did not pick up the option on Wally Joyner.

Joyner, a 15-year veteran, backed up Andres Galarraga at first base and hit .281 with five home runs and 32 RBI. The Braves acquired Joyner from San Diego along with Reggie Sanders and Quilvio Veras in December 1999 in exchange for Ryan Klesko and Bret Boone.