The Boston Red Sox designated veteran John Smoltz for assignment on Friday, likely ending his Hall of Fame career.

The 42-year old posted a 2-5 record and an 8.33 ERA. In eight starts, Smoltz gave up fewer than five runs only twice, once in a rain-shortened, four-inning outing. The icing on the cake came in a 13-6 loss to the Yankees on Thursday as he allowed eight runs in 3 1/3 innings.

“It’s never easy,’’ Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told the Boston Globe. “I think we just felt like we had to try something different. It’s never easy to tell someone they’re designated for assignment, especially a Hall of Fame pitcher like that. I think it was certainly time to try something different.

It remains unclear if Smoltz will retire, but his struggles certainly suggest it may be time. If that is the case he finishes with 212 wins, 154 saves, and a 3.32 ERA in 3,435 innings pitched

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