ASSOCIATED PRESSGlavine was the winningest active pitcher in the majors with a record of 305-203. While he and his agent, Gregg Clifton, did not immediately return phone messages, the fact that Glavine asked to be released clearly indicates that he still wants to pitch after missing most of last season with the first major injury of his career.
“I think he was taken aback a little bit,” Wren conceded.
Glavine pitched his first 16 seasons for the Braves, then signed with the New York Mets before the 2003 season after negotiations with Atlanta turned bitter.
The left-hander pitched five seasons for the Mets, then reconciled with the Braves. Glavine returned to Atlanta with a one-year deal in 2008, intent on closing his career with his original team.
He pitched only 13 games before his season ended with an elbow injury that required surgery. He also had some minor work done on his shoulder, and negotiations on a return to the Braves dragged on beyond the start of spring training.
Glavine finally signed a $3.5 million deal that included a $1 million bonus when he was placed on the active roster and $1.25 million each for 30 and 90 days on the active roster.
He never made it back — at least not with Atlanta.
Shortly before his first scheduled start, Glavine began feeling pain in his shoulder. He admitted that retirement was a possibility, but two weeks of rest left him feeling much better. He made two rehab starts for Triple-A Gwinnett, throwing five shutout innings in his second appearance, and added to his scoreless streak at Rome.
Wren said the numbers didn’t matter.
“The comeback was not working,” the GM said. “Our evaluation was he would not be successful.”
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