Baseball Guru
11-01-2006, 10:45 AM
nydailynews.com
Glavine likes Mets' pitch
Near deal for 2 years, $25M
TOKYO - Not only does Tom Glavine appear poised to remain a Met, he apparently intends to pitch in Flushing through the 2008 season. Glavine and the Mets are deep in discussions about a two-year, $25 million contract that should be completed shortly, a source told the Daily News.
When Glavine cleaned out his locker the day after the Mets' Game 7 ouster in the NLCS, he indicated his family's preference would be the primary factor in whether he remained a Met or returned to the Braves. Signing with Atlanta would allow Glavine to be near his wife, Christine, and his two sons at his home in Alpharetta, Ga.
"The only reason, really, that it's even a question is my family," Glavine said Oct. 20. Glavine also suggested that day that '07 would be his final season, provided he notched 10 more victories and reached the 300 plateau.
However, one other factor has since surfaced and appears to have altered the southpaw's mindset. Glavine, who has shared a stage with John Smoltz and Greg Maddux throughout their distinguished major-league careers, would prefer not to enter the Hall of Fame in the same class as Maddux, according to a source. Maddux figures to retire after the '07 season, meaning Glavine would need to pitch through '08 to ensure they are in separate classes if both are elected on the first ballot.
For that reason, along with his rebirth as a pitcher, Glavine appears intent on pitching two more seasons as he nears his 41st birthday during spring training.
The Mets and Glavine each had options for the '07 season, but both sides had always portrayed the situation as a two-step partnership: First, Glavine would decide whether he wanted to return. Then the team and Glavine's agents would work out a contract somewhere between the figures.
In mid-January, Glavine agreed to defer $3 million from his $10.5 million salary for '06. In turn, the sides added a pair of options - a team option for '07 that totals $14 million, and a player option that totals $7.5 million, with $3 million paid as a lump sum if neither is exercised.
Glavine is 48-48 with a 3.85 ERA in four seasons as a Met. He went 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 198 innings this past season. He also contributed 13 scoreless innings over his first two postseason starts, against the Dodgers and Cardinals.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner overcame an August scare that stemmed from coldness in his left ring finger. Glavine was able to treat that clotting condition that originated in his left shoulder with baby aspirin.
The Mets desperately wanted Glavine to return, especially minus Pedro Martinez for at least the first half of the 2007 season following rotator cuff surgery.
"I think he's very important as far as the leadership of our staff - especially if you're not going to have someone like a Pedro until later on - with some of the young players who might step in and maybe take over a spot in the rotation," Willie Randolph said.
Glavine likes Mets' pitch
Near deal for 2 years, $25M
TOKYO - Not only does Tom Glavine appear poised to remain a Met, he apparently intends to pitch in Flushing through the 2008 season. Glavine and the Mets are deep in discussions about a two-year, $25 million contract that should be completed shortly, a source told the Daily News.
When Glavine cleaned out his locker the day after the Mets' Game 7 ouster in the NLCS, he indicated his family's preference would be the primary factor in whether he remained a Met or returned to the Braves. Signing with Atlanta would allow Glavine to be near his wife, Christine, and his two sons at his home in Alpharetta, Ga.
"The only reason, really, that it's even a question is my family," Glavine said Oct. 20. Glavine also suggested that day that '07 would be his final season, provided he notched 10 more victories and reached the 300 plateau.
However, one other factor has since surfaced and appears to have altered the southpaw's mindset. Glavine, who has shared a stage with John Smoltz and Greg Maddux throughout their distinguished major-league careers, would prefer not to enter the Hall of Fame in the same class as Maddux, according to a source. Maddux figures to retire after the '07 season, meaning Glavine would need to pitch through '08 to ensure they are in separate classes if both are elected on the first ballot.
For that reason, along with his rebirth as a pitcher, Glavine appears intent on pitching two more seasons as he nears his 41st birthday during spring training.
The Mets and Glavine each had options for the '07 season, but both sides had always portrayed the situation as a two-step partnership: First, Glavine would decide whether he wanted to return. Then the team and Glavine's agents would work out a contract somewhere between the figures.
In mid-January, Glavine agreed to defer $3 million from his $10.5 million salary for '06. In turn, the sides added a pair of options - a team option for '07 that totals $14 million, and a player option that totals $7.5 million, with $3 million paid as a lump sum if neither is exercised.
Glavine is 48-48 with a 3.85 ERA in four seasons as a Met. He went 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 198 innings this past season. He also contributed 13 scoreless innings over his first two postseason starts, against the Dodgers and Cardinals.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner overcame an August scare that stemmed from coldness in his left ring finger. Glavine was able to treat that clotting condition that originated in his left shoulder with baby aspirin.
The Mets desperately wanted Glavine to return, especially minus Pedro Martinez for at least the first half of the 2007 season following rotator cuff surgery.
"I think he's very important as far as the leadership of our staff - especially if you're not going to have someone like a Pedro until later on - with some of the young players who might step in and maybe take over a spot in the rotation," Willie Randolph said.