ATLANTA -- Without any guarantee that he'll be physically capable of pitching, John Smoltz doesn't see a need to even speculate about where he'll be next year. Nor does he understand why this has become an issue long before he or anybody else has a clue about whether he'll rebound from the major right shoulder surgery he underwent in June.

But Smoltz's future became an issue again on Tuesday, when some national outlets ran some quotes he recently provided a reporter from Atlanta Magazine. In the blog, the Braves hurler was quoted as saying, "I say this for the first time, without reservation, if I'm going to bust my butt and if I feel like I'm good enough and it doesn't work out here, I will be pitching somewhere else."

Basically this was the same as Smoltz saying, "If my favorite country club is closed next year, I'll look to golf somewhere else." But because he admitted that he understands there's a chance the Braves might not provide him the chance to play his entire career in Atlanta, it became a news story.

"I don't even know why I'm answering that question," Smoltz said. "I've been [with the Braves] for 21 years and I'll be here as long as there's a spot for me. ... I know I'll be here until they say I'm not good enough."

Because Smoltz likely wouldn't even be permitted to start throwing again until January, it's obviously far too early for Braves general manager Frank Wren to speculate about the possibility of Smoltz pitching in Atlanta again next year.

Smoltz understands this, and is in no way attempting to provide himself some contractual leverage as he heads into an offseason with nothing but uncertainty about his future. At the same time, the 41-year-old pitcher knows that the Braves are preparing for a busy offseason, during which they can't allow his potential return affect their certain need to fill multiple voids on their pitching staff.

When Smoltz visits Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday, he expects the noted surgeon will be happy with the progress he's made. Over the past couple months, Smoltz has progressively regained flexibility in his surgically-repaired right shoulder.

"With the exception of throwing a baseball, there isn't anything that I can't do," Smoltz said.

Right now, Smoltz can't erase the uncertainty surrounding the potential of him pitching again. Nor can he control the speculation that will be created over the next few months by both those who believe he'll pitch again and those who have chosen to doubt him again.

"I just hope I get the desire to [pitch again], because if I say I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it," Smoltz said.

Whether he's provided the opportunity to conclude his career with the Braves remains to be seen. But his desire to do so certainly hasn't changed.

"I'm certainly going to rehab my butt off to pitch again," Smoltz said. "If I can't, it's a moot point."