Tom Glavine will be window-shopping for New York-area digs today – but hold off on your housewarming gifts. He’s still about 900 miles from becoming a Met.
The 36-year-old lefty arrives in the Big Apple as part of a two-day, two-city tour that could persuade him to leave the Braves. The free agent will spend the morning and afternoon with team officials before departing for Philadelphia to meet with Phillies brass tonight.
Glavine already has made his sincerity known to owner Fred Wilpon, GM Steve Phillips and staff ace Al Leiter, but this is a make-or-break day for the city’s National League franchise. An improved offer by the Mets – particularly the addition of a fourth year to their current three-year, $30-million proposal – would go a long way to landing the future Hall of Famer.
“It’s not a deal-breaker, but it could be a deal-maker,” Gregg Clifton, Glavine’s agent, said of a fourth year.
It’s safe to say Glavine, who went 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA last year, would be the greatest free-agent signing in the club’s history. Clifton is downplaying the visit’s importance.
“Anyone who makes a decision based on [karma and one-day impressions] will make a lot of bad decisions in their life,” Clifton said. “You’re making a baseball decision, first and foremost.”
Clifton said he didn’t know what the itinerary was and added, “We told the clubs, ‘We’re leaving it up to you to show Tom why he should come to your team.’ “
The button-down Mets are planning to “roll out the red carpet,” according to a source.
“We’re not looking to turn this into a dog-and-pony show,” Phillips said. “I think this is just a matter of Tom getting to know the Mets and the Mets getting to know Tom.”
Phillips declined to reveal the itinerary, but the group will spend time in Westchester County, might visit Shea Stadium and then head into Manhattan. Lunch at a swanky five-star restaurant is a strong possibility.
When asked if there was an air of excitement surrounding Glavine’s visit, Phillips responded, “The offseason is always exciting. It’s exciting whenever you have a chance to acquire quality talent.”
After using the word “exciting” twice, Phillips reverted to “accountant-speak” on a number of pertinent issues.
On whether the Mets would offer Glavine a fourth year, he said, “We know where we’re going to stop and we will stop. We have a very good idea of the appropriate value.”
On whether the Mets feel the heat because both the Braves and the Phillies are division rivals, Phillips said, “You identify the players you want, and what happens from there are the players’ decisions.”
