As expected, the Atlanta Braves re-signed veteran pitcher Tom Glavine to a one-year, incentive-laden contract that could net Glavine up to $4.5 million dollars this season. The Braves announced the signing on Friday. Glavine is expected to be fully recovered from off-season arm surgery and barring any setbacks should be ready to pitch in Spring Training and start the season as the club’s fifth starter.
Glavine now joins Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami in what could prove to be a potentially strong Braves rotation. While Glavine is baseball’s only active 300-game winner, he isn’t expected to carry the new Braves rotation like he had done in past years. At this stage in his career and nearing retirement, Glavine appears happy to defer to a new breed of Braves starters who are hoping to bring back the years of pitching excellence and dominance in Atlanta. Glavine, who is the only remaining member of Atlanta’s vaunted “Big Three”, figured prominently in the Braves legendary past rotations that were the backbone of the team’s long running success.
It now appears Glavine will be able to finish his storied career where it all began. Welcome back to Atlanta, Tommy. We’re happy to have you.
The Braves appear close to bringing veteran lefty Tom Glavine back to Atlanta. Glavine, who has expressed a desire to return to the Braves this off-season, was hoping the team’s feelings would be mutual.
It appears Glavine’s wish will be granted.
The Braves have revised their initial offer to the southpaw and have reportedly increased the incentive portion of their one-year contract proposal, which now could earn Glavine up to $4.5 million dollars this season if the hurler stays healthy. A good portion of the money in this contract will be deferred. While the offer still falls below what Glavine had requested, it seems the two sides are close enough and will come to an agreement.
The team could be making an announcement on Glavine’s signing very shortly.
The Braves expect Glavine to arrive in camp towards the end of the month and they plan to pencil him into the 5th spot of their revamped rotation.
Me and Tom Glavine in Philadelphia, PA... May 2008.
Braves pitchers and catchers are due to report to Spring Training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex on Saturday, February 14th, with the team’s first workout scheduled for Sunday. The question on the minds of Braves Nation is, will Tom Glavine be in camp?
The veteran lefty and 300-game winner is still negotiating with Braves GM Frank Wren, trying to work out a creative, incentive-laden contract to return to Atlanta in 2009.
Glavine, who turns 43 in March, is recovering from off-season surgery on his elbow and shoulder. The Braves have offered Glavine a one-year contract that is worth $1 million guaranteed and up to $3 million in incentives. While he understands the Braves reluctance to offering him more guaranteed money, he hopes the team will increase the incentive portion of his contract so he can prove his health and worth to the ballclub this season.
Glavine hopes to speak with Wren again this week but has put no timetable on the contract talks, acknowledging he’d like to be in camp in March but doesn’t need to be present when pitchers and catchers report this weekend.
The Atlanta Braves starting rotation has underwent a great deal of change this winter, and with Spring Training on the horizon, even more changes could be on the way.
The Braves have worked hard this off-season to rebuilda starting rotation that was depleted by injuries last season. The team acquired veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox in hopes of providing a stablizing force at the top of the rotation. Vazquez is steady if not flashy, winning at least 10 games in nine straight seasons and most importantly, pitching at least 200 innings in eight out of those nine seasons.
After adding Vazquez to the mix, the Braves continued their search for a proven ace to place atop their new look rotation. The team attempted to land Padres ace Jake Peavy via trade and also tried to sign free agent starter A.J. Burnett, but failed in both attempts.
In another shocking turn of events, Atlanta Braves pitching legend John Smoltz shocked the baseball world by leaving the only professional team he’s ever played for to sign a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. Many baseball experts and pundits predicted Smoltz would retire a Brave.
In the midst of the shock of Smoltz’s departure, the team finally found success in its search for more rotation help and added not one but two new starters, quelling some of teammates and fans concern.
The Braves signed Japanese free agent starter Kenshin Kawakami, making him the first Japanese player in franchise history. Kawakami spent the last 11 seasons as one of the top Japanese pitchers in the Japan’s Central League. Kawakami went 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA last season for the Chunichi Dragons before missing almost three weeks in September due to a strained back. Kawakami passed a physical before signing with the Braves and is expected to be a healthy and vital part of the Braves rotation this coming season.
In the same week that the Braves held a press conference announcing the signing of Kawakami, the Braves finally landed their much sought after ace. Atlanta increased its pursuit of Los Angeles Dodgers free agent Derek Lowe after John Smoltz officially departed for Beantown. The Braves finally got their man, inticing Lowe to sign a four year, 60-million dollar contract with the club. Lowe, 35, has proven to be one of baseball’s most reliable starters. He has averaged 15 wins and over 200 innings over the past seven seasons. Lowe, who is known for his sinkerball, will anchor a potentially strong Braves staff in 2009.
The Braves have penciled in the first four slots of their rotation for the coming season. While the order has yet to be decided, the team knows Lowe will lead a staff that will also be comprised of Vazquez, returning phenom Jair Jurrjens, who enjoyed a successful rookie season and Kawakami. The fifth slot remains up for grabs but storied Braves pitcher Tom Glavine has his eye of the spot.
At this point, Glavine’s future with the team remains up in the air. Glavine is recovering from surgery to repair the torn flexor in his pitching elbow and has yet to decide whether he will pitch another season or retire. Glavine’s rehabilitation is going well after throwing two mound sessions and the hurler has said if he does return he hopes to work out a deal to remain in Atlanta and retire a Brave.
Ace of Braves 