Braves Close To Deal With Tom Glavine
9:50pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Braves are close to re-signing Glavine. The lefty could potentially earn $4.5MM; here are the details:
Glavine would receive a $1MM guarantee, $1MM for making the Opening Day roster and two additional bonuses tied to the number of the days he is active, the source said.
6:22pm: According to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com, the Braves are making progress with free agent Tom Glavine.
The club made him a new offer this weekend worth $1MM guaranteed and another $3MM in deferred incentives. Glavine and his agent, Gregg Clifton, are obviously pining for more guaranteed cash.
"We continue to make progress," Clifton told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday. "When you have two sides that want to be together, it shouldn’t be too difficult to reach a resolution."
Braves Make New Offer To Glavine
SUNDAY: Jayson Stark says that a reunion between the two sides is becoming more likely. He quotes Braves GM Frank Wren as saying:
"I think we’ve made some progress," GM Frank Wren told ESPN.com Sunday. "I think there’s a true desire on both parties to get something done."
FRIDAY: Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports mentioned these details on Tom Glavine‘s contract aspirations:
Glavine is seeking a guarantee of $3MM, plus incentives that could push the total value of his package into the $6MM range. He is willing to defer a portion of his salary.
Today, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Braves have offered a new one-year proposal that would defer the incentives for up to five years. The offer guarantees $1MM, with a chance to earn another $3MM in deferred incentives. Bowman suggests both sides are more optimistic today than they were yesterday.
Braves Rumors: Glavine, Outfielders
1:29pm: David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers thoughts on the Glavine situation.
10:42am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has the latest on the Braves.
Rosenthal believes the Braves have $6-8MM to work with, as they try to re-sign Tom Glavine and add an outfielder. The outfield situation is of greater priority.
The Braves had a positive meeting with Glavine on Wednesday; Rosenthal says their offer gives the lefty "the chance to make $3MM — a $1MM guarantee, $1MM if he made the Opening Day roster and $1MM if he was on the roster 60 days." Glavine is said to be seeking $3MM guaranteed plus incentives. He wants to retire a Brave, and is intent on pitching in 2009.
As for the outfield, Rosenthal says the Braves are "checking into" free agents such as Garret Anderson, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds, and Ken Griffey Jr. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick wrote earlier today that the Mariners are making progress with Griffey. Rosenthal says a Nick Swisher trade "also remains possible, but the Braves almost certainly could land one of the free agents for less than the $5.3MM that Swisher will earn in 2009." Swisher is guaranteed an additional $16.75MM for 2010-11, if his 2012 option for $10.25MM is declined.
Glavine, Braves Have ‘Positive’ Meeting
8:36pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman heard from Glavine, who also described the meeting as "positive." He said he wants to sign with the Braves and sounds hopeful that he will. Frank Wren said he had a "good meeting" with Glavine.
Since Glavine’s willing to accept a contract with deferred money, Bowman suggests this deal could work: $2MM guaranteed with up to $4MM in deferred incentives over the next five years.
7:38pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Braves met with Tom Glavine today and offered him a deal that could be worth up to $3MM. Rosenthal’s sources confirm Jerry Crasnick’s earlier report: the deal would guarantee Glavine $1MM, pay him another million for making the team out of Spring Training and pay him the final million if he’s on the Braves’ roster for 60 days.
Glavine’s agent, Gregg Clifton described the meeting as "amicable and positive" and said the two sides are still exchanging ideas. The Nationals are an option for Glavine if he doesn’t reach an agreement with Atlanta.
The Braves have $6-8MM left to spend, but they’d also like to add an outfielder. Rosenthal describes Nick Swisher, who makes $5.3MM this year, as the Braves’ most likely option. If Atlanta expects the Yankees to pick up any of Swisher’s salary, they’d likely have to part with "higher quality prospects."
Rosenthal adds that Glavine could wait until March, when he turns 43, to sign. If injuries occur in Spring Training more teams could need starters.
Glavine Decision Close
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, free agent lefty Tom Glavine is likely to make a decision within 36-48 hours on whether to take the Braves’ offer or move on. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says he’s scheduled to meet with Braves GM Frank Wren today. Crasnick describes the offer:
Sources said the Braves have offered Glavine a $1MM base salary, another $1MM if he’s on the Opening Day roster, and an additional $1MM after 60 days. Glavine is believed to be looking for some incentives that could kick in and increase the value of the deal if he’s able to make at least 25-30 starts. Glavine is also apparently willing to defer some salary to make a deal work with Atlanta.
Glavine, 42, had flexor tendon and shoulder surgery in August of last year.
Braves, Glavine Will Meet Wednesday
FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the Braves will meet with free agent left-hander Tom Glavine on Wednesday.
As Rosenthal writes, Glavine "is seeking a guarantee in the $2 million to $3 million range." The Braves offered him $1MM last week. Glavine, 43, went 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA in 13 starts last season before undergoing surgery. He is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
The Braves are thought to have around $7MM left in the budget, but are still in need of an outfielder.
Glavine Weighing His Options
The AP has an update on Tom Glavine, who is currently mulling over a decision on whether or not to take a sizeable pay cut from his 2008 salary:
"There’s a point where it’s worth going back and going through everything you go through, good and bad, in getting ready and going through a baseball season — and a point where it’s not," Glavine told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There’s a price for everything. I don’t know how to say that without someone getting offended. In every business, there’s a price that makes it worthwhile."
Atlanta’s offer to Glavine has a base salary of less than $2MM, though he could reportedly earn around $3MM with incentives. Glavine would enter the 2009 season as the active leader in career wins, with 305. He needs just two more to pass Eddie Plank and move into the Top 20 all-time, though he can expect some competition from Randy Johnson this year in that regard.
Does Glavine have another solid season in him?
Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Sheets, Glavine
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo shares some notes on Manny Ramirez and around the league. Let’s have a look, bullet-point style:
- He cites an AL Exec who says, "I’ll be honest, I never thought Ramirez would walk away from… one year, $25 million. That’s better than the $20 million option he had torn up… If he has another great year, he gets another $25 million for one year? Or maybe a team then decides, ‘OK, this guy has behaved himself for a while, continues to produce at a high level now, let’s commit for another two years to him.’ Unless a team like the Yankees comes in at the last minute and gets it done, I just don’t see where he’s going to make more than $25 million." Cafardo adds that "Brian Cashman insists it won’t happen."
- A quote from Rich Hill on his being traded to the Orioles: "[Cubs general manager] Jim Hendry really took care of me. He wanted to create an opportunity for me that he told me probably didn’t exist in Chicago, so I’m grateful. I know Baltimore tried to deal for me last year and it didn’t work out, but this time they made it work." Hill also adds that he’s over his back injury and will rediscover his control.
- Ben Sheets not signing anywhere until June hurts the Brewers two-fold: they may have to foot the bill for the surgery and won’t receive a first round draft pick for losing a Type-A free agent. Sheets has a torn flexor tendon, as revealed by an exam with the Texas Rangers. On the other hand, MLBTR has noted that in June, after his surgery, he won’t cost a draft pick to sign.
- Andruw Jones on playing in Boston: "It’s too cold there. There’s too much stuff going on."
- Bobby Abreu may have to settle for a one or two year deal at $3MM. Cafardo lists the Angels, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and Mariners.
- Expect an incentive-laden deal for one year between Tom Glavine and the Braves. As MLBTR has noted, their latest offer was between $1-2MM with no incentives.
- Mark Mulder could be a useful back end starter and he’s almost ready to put himself on display to teams.
- Shea Hillenbrand is 32 and receiving no interest. Cafardo wonders if he’s "being punished for past transgressions?"
- Cubs, White Sox, and Dodgers are lined up for Orlando Hudson; however, the transfer of ownership may have temporarily tied the hands of Jim Hendry to do anything until Tom Ricketts takes over.
- The A’s are continuously interested in Orlando Cabrera, Adam Dunn, and Abreu.
Braves Offer Contract To Glavine
10:11pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman writes that both "sides are expected to keep talking through the weekend." GM Frank Wren had lunch recently with Glavine, who’s expected to be ready for the start of the season after undergoing elbow and shoulder surgeries in August.
7:22pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves have offered Tom Glavine a one-year contract worth between $1MM and $2MM.
GM Frank Wren apparently made the offer earlier this week. But, as Bowman writes, "with no incentive clauses included, it currently stands as an offer Glavine is hesitant to accept." The 42-year-old left-hander hasn’t said yet whether he’d be willing to pitch in a place other than Atlanta.
Braves Rumors: Ohman, Outfield, Glavine
Check out the latest blog post from David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A few details:
- Will Ohman is unable to comment on the state of his negotiations, leading O’Brien to write, "it wouldn’t surprise me if [the Braves] sign Ohman soon." There is some debate over whether the Phillies are still in on Ohman, while the Mets may be looking to sign him at a bargain price.
- O’Brien hasn’t had any indications that an outfield acquisition is brewing for the Braves, but he admits that can change quickly. The possible targets are assumed to be Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher, and Bobby Abreu.
- O’Brien believes Tom Glavine will pitch this year, and that the Braves will offer him a Major League contract. Ken Rosenthal examined the situation last night, suggesting that Glavine seeks $2-3MM guaranteed with a chance to earn $6MM or so.