Braves GM: Glavine release a ‘performance decision’

Parting ways with the Braves once was hard enough. Now Tom Glavine has done it twice.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Braves released Glavine, a vintage Braves player who won the clinching game for their only World Series championship since coming to Atlanta, saying the 43-year-old had not progressed enough in his comeback from shoulder and elbow surgery.

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Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

After being released from the Braves, Tom Glavine’s baseball future is uncertain.

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“Our view is that over the course of the last month, he has not improved,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said.

The day after Glavine, whose 305 career wins ranks 21st all-time, threw six scoreless innings for the Class-A Rome Braves in the final outing of his minor-league rehabilitation, the Braves announced they would call up highly touted prospect Tommy Hanson, who will make his major-league debut Saturday in the fifth spot in the Braves’ rotation.

That spot was originally intended for Glavine, a 22-year veteran of the major leagues who signed a one-year contract in February worth $1 million guaranteed and up to $4.5 million with incentives.

Wren said he offered Glavine the option to retire, but Glavine asked to be released.

“I’m surprised and disappointed,” Glavine said in a text message Wednesday evening. “I’m ready to pitch.”

Glavine’s agent Gregg Clifton told reporters Glavine was interested in pitching elsewhere. Glavine declined further comment, saying he would say more in a day or so.

Glavine, who pitched 17 seasons for the Braves, thought he had his bitter ending in December 2002 from the team for which he became an almost certain selection for the Hall of Fame. That year, a breakdown in negotiations prompted Glavine to leave for the New York Mets.

This year, the Braves owed Glavine a $1 million bonus when they put him on the active roster and an additional $1.25 million each after 30 and 60 days on the roster. But Wren said Wednesday’s move was not financial.

“It’s not a business decision from our perspective,” said Wren, who watched Glavine in Class AAA Gwinnett last Thursday. “It’s a performance decision.”

Glavine, who had season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder last August, has acknowledged that he has pitched with shoulder pain since spring training, when the velocity on his fastball was only in the upper 70s. He had been reaching the mid-80s in his recent outings, according to scoreboard readings. But Wren said those scoreboard readings were inaccurate.

While the result of Glavine’s six scoreless innings Tuesday night were good, Wren said what Braves scouts have seen was not.

“In low-A ball, the pitching line is not a relevant factor in whether the ‘stuff’ could get major-league hitters out,” Wren said.

When asked why the Braves just didn’t break ties in spring training, Wren said, “We were very hopeful there would be a different outcome. We were hoping Tom Glavine would pitch for us.”

He acknowledged Wednesday was a difficult day.

“This is not pleasant for anyone,” said Wren, who knows there could be some public backlash. “Obviously you consider everything when you make decisions but at the end of the day, the fans they want to win games, be in a playoff hunt, and we think our club has a better chance if we go with a young pitcher like Tommy Hanson.”

Braves manager Bobby Cox echoed his sentiments.

“That was really tough, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through,” a somber Cox said after the game. “As an organization we made a decision and that was that. Tommy’s got all the respect in the world from me and the organization and the players.”

About the same time Glavine was meeting with Wren, Braves president John Schuerholz and Cox, Chipper Jones was talking with reporters, describing why it was so important to Glavine to come back.

“It’s personal,” Jones had said.

After the game Jones used hushed tones to talk about it.

“Glav not being here anymore, the whole situation surrounding his release, I feel bad for him because he worked so hard to come back,” Jones said. “He pronounced himself ready, and now he’s going to be ready for somebody else.”