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Baseball

Longtime Braves left-hander Glavine chooses rival Mets

NEW YORK -- For more than a decade, Tom Glavine helped put the Braves on top.

Now, he'll try to topple them.

Glavine, the most sought-after pitcher on the free-agent market, reached agreement with the Mets on Thursday for a three-year contract worth $35-million.

"It's almost surreal that it happened," Glavine said. "I never thought I would play for someone else. I thought I would play my whole career with the Braves. I held out hope that things would work out, but they didn't. There's a lot of emotions. It's a tough time."

Glavine's contract includes an option for a fourth year, based on innings pitched, that could make the deal worth $42.5-million.

Glavine, 36, had spent his entire career with the Braves, winning two Cy Young Awards and posting five 20-win seasons.

But their NL East rivals, the Mets and Phillies, showed more interest than his old team.

The Mets couldn't be happier.

"Unbelievable," pitcher John Franco said. "He's the first big free agent we've had in a while."

With Glavine in the rotation, Atlanta won 11 straight division titles -- and became the Mets' biggest nemesis. Glavine was 16-7 lifetime against the Mets.

Glavine was 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA last season and is 242-143 with a 3.37 ERA for his career.

Padres' Nevin nixes deal with Reds for Griffey

SAN DIEGO -- The Reds and Padres agreed to trade outfielder Ken Griffey for Phil Nevin last weekend but the deal died when Nevin wouldn't waive his no-trade clause.

Nevin said he told Padres general manager Kevin Towers that he wants to stay in San Diego, where he resurrected his career in 1999 after arriving as a backup catcher in a spring training trade with Anaheim.

"I let them know that's where I want to be," Nevin said by cell phone from Las Vegas, where he was golfing with Padres manager Bruce Bochy. "I just don't really want to talk about it, honestly. I'm staying in San Diego and we'll just take it from there. Those are things that are supposed to be left between the teams."

Towers said he had no comment.

ANGELS: Outfielder Darin Erstad had surgery on his right hand to remove part of a fractured bone. He is expected to be ready to play during spring training.

CARDINALS: Right-hander Andy Benes made his retirement official, informing general manager Walt Jocketty of his decision during an hourlong meeting.

RANGERS: Ivan Rodriguez will part ways with the team on Saturday unless a new contract is signed or the team offers salary arbitration for the 10-time All-Star catcher.

RED SOX: Right-handers Willie Banks and Ryan Rupe signed contracts for next season. Rupe was claimed on waivers from the Devil Rays on Nov. 27.

ROCKIES: Assistant general manager Josh Byrnes is leaving Colorado to take a similar position with the Red Sox. ... Pitcher Shawn Chacon was arrested and charged with third-degree assault for hitting a man in the face with a beer bottle during a bar scuffle.

TIGERS: The distance from the plate to the left-centerfield wall at Comerica Park will be reduced from 395 to 370 feet. The rest of the distances will remain the same: 345 feet down the leftfield line, 420 feet in center, 365 feet to right-center and 330 feet down the rightfield line. The flagpole, which was in play in center, will be out of play.

YANKEES: Third baseman Robin Ventura passed his physical and finalized a $5-million, one-year contract.

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