Every MLB pitcher reaches the point in their career when it's time to hang up the cleats. Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine was no exception to that. Glavine was a beloved part of Atlanta's rotation for many years. However, after a rough 2008 season, the Hall of Famer was faced with a tough decision. He struggled with a 2-4 record and 5.54 ERA over 13 starts.
Glavine was shut down that August due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Glavine also had shoulder surgery that offseason. Atlanta extended him an offer to return for the 2009 season on a $1 million contract at age 43 which was finalized back on February 19, 2009.
Braves surprised everyone after they cut Hall of Famer Tom Glavine during 2009 season
The southpaw was rehabbing his way back to the big leagues, but he would never toe the rubber again. After throwing six scoreless innings for Single-A Rome, the Braves made the unexpected decision to cut him at the beginning of June.
Fans were already unhappy that the team didn't bring back John Smoltz that offseason. This just added to the growing irritations between fans and management. Why let Glavine, a 305-game winner, make three rehab starts and not give him a look at the MLB level before making a decision?
Frank Wren stated this wasn't a financial decision for the Braves, but rather that it was a "performance decision." Glavine was surprised by the decision to cut ties with him after working his way through the rehab process.
"Everyone felt we had a better chance to win at the major league level with one of our younger pitchers," Wren said at the time. "The pitching line is irrelevant when you're pitching in low A-ball."
His teammates weren't very pleased with the timing of it at all. Chipper Jones mentioned wanting the decision to have been made sooner. Not after Glavine made a few rehab starts with the understanding he'd get a chance to pitch. The storybook ending everyone hoped for never happened.
There was a thought he'd pitch elsewhere in 2009, but that didn't happen. Glavine called it a career after this strange ending. He finished with a 74 WAR over 22 years with the Braves and Mets. The lefty had a 3.54 ERA over 682 starts, with 1,500 walks and 2,607 strikeouts. Glav has the 29th most strikeouts in MLB history, which is right above Warren Spahn. Current Braves ace, Chris Sale, is 32nd on this list and will likely pass Glavine in 2026.