Braves offer Glavine 1-year contract

[mattlanta]

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves have made an offer to Tom Glavine, but the 300-game winner hasn't decided whether to accept a significant pay cut.

With the start of spring training just a week away, general manager Frank Wren confirmed Sunday the Braves recently offered a contract to Glavine, who's hoping to return for at least one more season after going down last year with the first serious injury of his career.

Glavine, who underwent elbow and shoulder surgery, has resumed throwing without any pain and could be an effective fifth starter in a rotation that includes offseason acquisitions Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Japanese all-star Kenshin Kawakami. The Braves also have 13-game winner Jair Jurrjens.

Wren would not discuss details of the offer of Glavine, but media reports said it would include a base salary of $1 million-$2 million. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Glavine could earn up to $3 million, including incentives, if he remained healthy through the season.

Glavine, who spent the first 16 years of his career with the Braves before moving to the New York Mets for five seasons, returned to Atlanta in 2008 for an $8 million contract.

The Braves, who still hope to add a power-hitting outfielder, aren't willing to offer nearly as much money to a pitcher who will turn 43 before the start of the season and is coming off major surgery. Glavine made only 13 starts last season, going 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA.

During the offseason, Atlanta lost another longtime stalwart of its rotation when John Smoltz, also in his 40s and rehabbing from season-ending surgery, took a more lucrative offer from the Boston Red Sox. Smoltz had spent his entire career with the Braves.

"There's a point where it's worth going back and going through everything you go through, good and bad, in getting ready and going through a baseball season -- and a point where it's not," Glavine told the Atlanta newspaper. "There's a price for everything. I don't know how to say that without someone getting offended. In every business, there's a price that makes it worthwhile."

Glavine and his agent, Gregg Clifton, did not immediately return telephone messages left by The Associated Press on Sunday.

With the retirement of former teammate Greg Maddux, Glavine would be the leader among active pitchers with 305 wins if he returns. He needs two to pass Eddie Plank for 20th on the career list.

After surgery, Glavine said he wouldn't return for another season with any team other than the Braves. During the offseason, he hinted he might reconsider that stance if another team was seriously interested.

[gsuteke]

They should have offered him a contract that could have netted him atleast 5 million with incentives.

Wren has just started to get his act back together and then this.

Goofball.

Seriously, Glavine would be a 5th starter. Offer him 2 million base salary - 1.5 million for 150 innings pitched - 1.5 million for winning 10 games

WTF

[AHF]

They should have offered him a contract that could have netted him atleast 5 million with incentives.

Wren has just started to get his act back together and then this.

Goofball.

Seriously, Glavine would be a 5th starter. Offer him 2 million base salary - 1.5 million for 150 innings pitched - 1.5 million for winning 10 games

WTF

Agreed.

[mrhonline]

I'd rather they spent the money on a leftfielder. Glavine won't be significantly better, even if healthy, than the in-house options.

[mattlanta]

I'd rather they spent the money on a leftfielder. Glavine won't be significantly better, even if healthy, than the in-house options.

Agreed. With the money we've spent on Glavine, that leaves just a little too less than what the left fielders will be demanding by spring training. I would have loved for us to signed Adam Dunn, but I wonder if this offer to Glavine signifies that there have been some trade talk progress with a team (maybe the Yankees?) that would send a left fielder (Swisher, Nady?) to Atlanta.

[uga2006]

The Braves need atleast one lefty in their rotation. Even if he can go for half the season until Hanson is ready it's worth it.

[mattlanta]

Rotoworld:

The Braves are close to re-signing Tom Glavine to a one-year deal, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports.

The Braves' latest proposal would give Glavine a chance to earn $4.5 million this season. Glavine is expected to be ready for Opening Day, so he'd take over a rotation spot that seemed destined to go to Jorge Campillo.

I think that Rotoworld comment was off. I think Charlie Morton had the fifth spot on the rotation to lose.

Edited February 17, 2009 by Libid21

[TroyMcClure]

Rotoworld:

I think that Rotoworld comment was off. I think Charlie Morton had the fifth spot on the rotation to lose.

No, the comment was right. It's Glavine's to lose, though. you must not be a Braves fan, Libid. Morton sucks. There is no way Bobby would start him over Campillo unless there was drastic improvement this spring. I wish we could have dumped him already.

[frosgrim]

According to Dave O'Brien the Glavine deal is all but done. 1 mil up front and then deferred incentives. Good way to get Glavine to pitch his final season in a Braves uniform. I hope the Braves can give him a hell of a farwell on his last home start of the season.

[mattlanta]

No, the comment was right. It's Glavine's to lose, though. you must not be a Braves fan, Libid. Morton sucks. There is no way Bobby would start him over Campillo unless there was drastic improvement this spring. I wish we could have dumped him already.

Ow... I am a Braves fan though. :(

I don't get any games up here in CT since TBS cut ties with the Braves so I never get to watch them here anymore - it was a sad day when I heard...

[TroyMcClure]

Ow... I am a Braves fan though. :(

I don't get any games up here in CT since TBS cut ties with the Braves so I never get to watch them here anymore - it was a sad day when I heard...

Sorry to hear that. I did see that MLB.com is supposed to have games. Maybe you will be able to catch a few.

As for Morton. He was, like, 4-8 or something with an ERA around 7, while Campillo was 8-7, I think, with an ERA under 4. It's a no-brainer. Morton looked good a few times and then it was bp city. Jorge is good. He's got a good change-up.