The Release of Tom Glavine

When I turned on MLB Network this evening to the news of the Braves releasing future Hall of Famer and 300 game-winner Tom Glavine I was first shocked and then disappointed. I was shocked because I could never imagine a scenario where the Atlanta Braves would release their former face of the franchise. I became disappointed when I heard that Glavine was to earn $1 million on the condition that he’d join the active roster and then $1.25 million if he remained on the roster for 30 days and then again for 90 days. Now the Braves front office won’t say that this was the reason for Glavine being released, but in the state that the economy is in, that was clearly a large factor in the decision. And that is what is disappointing; the fact that the economy is deciding when it is time to say goodbye to future Hall of Famers. A player like Tom Glavine should get to say goodbye on his own terms, not when the economy dictates. It’s just like when a player earns a no-trade clause, they get to decide where they play opposed to other people or factors. Glavine gave the Braves a lot during his career and was a major reason why they had a streak of 14 consecutive division titles. When you contribute so much to a team you deserve to go out on your own terms. The White Sox even recognize this with trying to contact Frank Thomas and his agent and letting him know if he would like to retire as a Chicago White Sox he just has to let them know and it will be done.

The Braves brought Glavine back after his stint with the New York Mets, and agreed to this contract where they would pay him $3.5 million in bonuses. If they’re not willing to pay those bonuses now, they should not have agreed to that contract back in the winter. In the world of sports, a combined $3.5 million isn’t that large of a sum even in this economy especially for a guy like Glavine who just knows how to pitch and eat innings. The bottom line is that Glavine said he’s ready to pitch for the Braves and the franchise that got the most out of him, turned around and released him saying they think they can get better production from a youth movement. The reality is the economy has gotten so bad that future Hall of Famers cannot get a proper goodbye, which is disappointing.

After a hiatus of no reason whatsoever, this is hopefully the return of IHOB.