News: Glavine Likely to Decline Option
Mets LHP Tom Glavine has told SI.com that he will ‘most likely’ decline his $9 million player option for next season.
According to the report, Glavine must make a final decision by Friday. Glavine, among many other comments, as quoted by SI…
“I know if I decide to become a full-fledged free agent, I’d have a lot of interest from a lot of teams…Atlanta is home. The hardest thing for me in New York is playing and being away from home. I’ve played in New
York for five years now. If you break it down, I’ve been away from my home for four years now. I’m at the point where my wife and kids are making sacrifices for me.”
…i think it’s fairly obvious he wanted to return to the Braves last season, but that John Schuerholz would not pony up the money to bring him back…this season, i would be shocked if these two do not find a way to re-unite…and i’m fine with it…he’s a good pitcher, and i’m still a fan, but he cannot come back…our relationship has got to end…if for no other reason than his parting comments after Sunday’s loss will give him no room for error among us, the fans, if he was to return…
Glavine, talking to reporters after Sunday’s loss…
“I’m not devastated. I’m disappointed, but devastation is for much greater things in life. I’m disappointed, obviously, in the way I wanted to pitch. I can’t say there is much more I would have done differently.”
According to Bob Klapisch in the Bergen Record the team’s front office was appalled at his comments and attitude from Sunday.
Braves LHP John Smoltz, as quoted during September in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution…
“You [bring him back to Atlanta] because of two things: He can still pitch; he can still win baseball games. And, this is where he belongs…I’d love to see him retire in a Braves uniform. For my sanity, for everything we’ve been through, that would be the greatest thing in the world.”
By the way, at Rumor Central for ESPN.com, Jerry Crasnick writes that Glavine is likely to pitch again next season, adding that the Washington Nationals could have interest in signing him.
In his final four starts of the season, during which the Mets lost all four games, Glavine was 0–2 with a 9.50 ERA.
