Glavine says he's returning to Mets
Left-hander had been considering return to Braves
By DAVID O'BRIEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/01/06
Tom Glavine's flirtation with the Braves is over and he's decided to return for a fifth season with the New York Mets, the veteran left-hander confirmed this afternoon to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
It's believed to be a one-year contract, though Glavine didn't get into details in a brief conversation. An announcement by the Mets was expected shortly.
Glavine is 10 wins shy of being the 23rd pitcher to reach 300, and had hoped to come back to Atlanta to get those 10 wins with the team he was with for his first 242 wins during 1987-2002.
But the Braves, with less need for a top starter and less money to spend for one, couldn't compete with the Mets' offer, believed to be worth at least $11 million.
Glavine notched five 20-win seasons won two Cy Young Awards with the Braves, and was also the 1995 World Series MVP.
After struggling for 2-1/2 seasons with the Mets, he revamped his approach and was 26-14 with a 3.22 ERA in his past 53 starts, including 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in three during the 2007 postseason.
He was 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA and 198 innings pitched in 32 starts during the regular season.
The Mets told Glavine they'd wait while he explored returning to the Braves. He still lives in Alpharetta and desired to be home during the baseball season instead of flying his family to New York on weekends and visiting them on the Mets' days off.