Mets Best Free-Agent Signing No. 6: Tom Glavine

This offseason, we’re looking at the Mets’ history with free agency, particularly their best and worst uses of money. As far as the top signings go, we’ve featured Rick Reed, R.A. Dickey, Robin Ventura, and (at No. 7) Max Scherzer. Next up, it’s another pitcher who, when he signed, was already destined to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Tom Glavine‘s Mets career is remembered for one game: his last start as a Met. It couldn’t have been worse and couldn’t have come at a worse time: seven earned runs allowed in the 2007 season finale against the Florida Marlins without even getting out of the first inning. When he left the mound to a shower of boos from the Shea Stadium crowd, the Mets season was all but over and the late-season collapse was all but complete.

Glavine wasn’t the same Cy Young-caliber pitcher who was a mainstay on a legendary Atlanta Braves rotation and was already a future Hall of Famer before putting on a Mets jersey. After regressing in his first two seasons in Queens with a subpar club, Glavine thrived when the franchise connected on other key additions. He proved to be a major contributor to the first division title in 18 years which brought them to the cusp of a World Series.

He pitched to a 3.97 ERA over five seasons with a 15.3 WAR and was remarkably durable despite his advanced age, averaging 33 starts per season. In three of those five years, he led the team in innings pitched and games started. Glavine added two more All-Star appearances during his time as a Met while bolstering his Cooperstown-worthy resume with a personal milestone.

The Mets were fresh off an underachieving 2002 season. Adding the 37-year-old Glavine on a four-year, $42 million deal (and taking him away from Atlanta) would be a way for the Mets to tip the scales in the NL East—albeit not entirely.

Glavine’s success was well-known: two Cy Youngs, eight All-Star appearances, five 20-win seasons, and a World Series MVP. So too was his pitching style: a mastery of control from a smooth delivery featuring an excellent changeup and pinpointed fastball, he regularly utilized the outside corner of the plate which made him effective versus right-handed hitters.

The level of talent Glavine enjoyed while in Atlanta wasn’t matched in New York. Not even close.  The Mets were actually worse in 2003 than they were the year before. Glavine struggled to adjust, posting his worst WHIP since becoming a full-time big-leaguer.

Glavine returned more to form in 2004 with an ERA of 3.60. His sub-.500 record was a reflection of a team still struggling to win. Fortunately, help was coming. Glavine would soon be supported in the rotation by fellow veteran Pedro Martinez and backed by a lineup that included Carlos Beltrán as well as emerging stars David Wright and José Reyes.

Although he was comparatively better in 2005, it was the ’06 season when he got an opportunity to pitch again in the playoffs. Glavine tossed six shutout innings against the Dodgers in what would be a best-of-five Division Series sweep and then befuddled the Cardinals in the NLCS opener. Glavine went seven, again didn’t allow a run, gave up just four hits, and walked two. But with the series tied, Glavine slipped up, getting the loss as he gave three earned and only managed to go four.

Glavine entered free agency, but only temporarily. He re-upped with the Mets for another year and on August 5 notched career victory No. 300 at Wrigley Field. It was a performance reminiscent of many other Glavine starts. When he departed in the seventh inning with a sizable lead, he had held the Cubs to two runs and six hits while only yielding one walk.

It was quite the turnaround for fans to embrace someone who contributed so much to the success of the hated Braves and the misery of the Mets. Perhaps it took one bad outing in a big spot for the fans to revert back to the feelings of the 1990s.

Consider September 28, 2007 the day that changed.

In fairness, those fans had seen a 7.5-game division lead dwindle in a mere 17 games. It was an outpouring of the obvious frustration. But however justified they were in letting Glavine hear it, the lefty’s comments afterward certainly didn’t ease the anger toward him.

Tom Glavine’s Mets career began shakily, turned very good, and ended disastrously. Overall, he was a much-needed addition to a franchise in search of a veteran pitcher to lead them into championship contention. But the sour taste in Mets fans still remains.

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