"With all the money, people are erring on the side of caution," he said. "And it's totally understandable, especially when you have a guy like Cole Hamels."
Glavine will decide this winter whether to return for a 22d season or retire to spend more time with his family and start the countdown to Cooperstown. His contract with the Mets for 2008 became guaranteed for $9 million when he reached 160 innings. With two-thirds of an inning today, the value will rise to $10 million and continue to rise by $1 million with every 10 innings pitched.
Glavine has already earned more than $120 million in his career. If he sticks around, money won't be the reason. Whether he pitches for the Mets or opts out of his contract for a chance to pitch for the Braves - they are they only two teams for whom he will pitch - it won't be for money. It will be for love of the game.
"I still love competing," Glavine said. "Coming to the ballpark every fifth day, knowing I'm going to pitch, is still a blast. It's the other four days and all the between-starts work that gets harder and harder.
"But those days are just as important as the days I pitch."
Ok, Jim.
Atlanta has experienced this before and even offer Tommy a lifetime job.
Glavine 's not money hungry?