As expected, Tom Glavine turned down his option yesterday to return to the Mets in 2008.
Glavine had a $13 million vesting option. The deadline for his decision was yesterday, but he was a long shot to accept the option. Even by declining it, he can still return to the Mets.
According to Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz, Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, informed Omar Minaya yesterday afternoon that Glavine wouldn't be taking the option.
"Tom has not had enough time to sufficiently think things through with his family and did not want to make a decision until he the opportunity with them to reflect on his future in baseball as well as his future with the Mets," Clifton told The Associated Press.
It wasn't a surprise, and Horwitz said the Mets "respect that decision."
Glavine was 13-8 with a 4.45 ERA in 2001/3 innings struggled down the stretch. The 41-year-old lefty has multiple choices for next year. He can retire, pitch for the Mets or pitch for the Braves. His decision is expected in approximately a month.