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When one of John Smoltz’s agents told a New York newspaper that the Braves’ veteran pitcher might consider a Roger Clemens-like midseason return with another team, it created baseball-industry buzz. It also made some Braves fans worry.

Smoltz and Braves general manager Frank Wren expressed surprise over the quotes from agent Keith Grunewald in the New York Daily News, in a story picked up by other media outlets and web sites.

Smoltz is rehabbing for a hopeful comeback after June shoulder surgery, and said he didn’t know about the story or Grunewald’s statements until an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter sent the pitcher a text message Saturday night.

“I know nothing about it,” Smoltz replied. “It’s news to me.”

Grunewald, one of Smoltz’s agents at Career Sports and Entertainment, was asked by a Daily News reporter about the pending free-agent pitcher possibly making a dramatic re-entry at midseason to help a contender reach the playoffs.

“That’s not a bad approach to say who is winning and who can he help?” Grunewald was quoted by the paper. “There will be injuries and poor performance around the league, so that will be part of it. … He won’t be ready for the beginning of the season, but we’re thinking May or June and he could make an impact like Roger Clemens a couple of years ago to help make a run at a playoff spot.”

Grunewald added, “John’s made it clear he’d love to finish his career in Atlanta, but that depends on what [Wren] and the guys want to do.”

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