Will Tom Glavine Pitch in 2009?

Tom Glavine is unemployed.

The longtime Atlanta Braves pitcher, a 305-game winner, was released today.

Glavine, 43, endured the first truly injury-riddled season of his major league career in 2008, as he made just 13 starts for the Braves and went 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA.  He had surgery on his shoulder and elbow within the past year, and made a few minor league rehab starts this season after Atlanta had signed him to a one-year deal.

Glavine was reportedly due to receive bonuses for being on the active roster and would have been owed as much as $4.5 million if he reached the incentives in his deal.

So this appears to be at least partially a financial decision for the Braves, and they also wanted to make room in the starting rotation for top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson. 

Hanson will reportedly make his major league debut Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Atlanta general manager Frank Wren reportedly said the organization gave Glavine the option of retiring as a Brave, but Glavine asked the team to release him.

If Glavine pitches in the big leagues this season, and he has deemed himself ready to do so, which team(s) might be interested?

In my opinion, these are the teams most likely to be interested in Glavine:

Washington Nationals.  Nationals' team president Stan Kasten is a former Braves' executive, and has long-time relationship with Glavine.  Glavine could act as a mentor to the Nats' young pitchers, either as a player or even perhaps as a coach. 

Since Washington is headed for another losing season, one might wonder how much interest Glavine would have in pitching for them.

San Diego Padres.  The pitcher's haven that is Petco Park could definitely appeal to Glavine.  But the Padres do appear to be looking to shed payroll (see Jake Peavy trade rumors), so it is unknown if they could reach a deal with Glavine.

New York Mets.  Glavine pitched for the Mets from 2003-2007, so it would seem unlikely he would return to the Big Apple.  But the Mets' pitching staff has struggled, and they could be interested in bringing him back if the price is right.

Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Dodgers are in first place in the NL West, but could be interested in Glavine as a back-of-the-rotation starter and veteran presence.

I don't think Glavine is likely to want to pitch in the American League, so any team on the junior circuit seems a very unlikely destination.  

If Glavine was indeed given the option to retire as a Brave and asked to be released instead, the decline of his relationship with the organization may stem from his decision to leave Atlanta and sign with the Mets prior to the 2003 season. 

If he has a vendetta against the Braves and wants to "show 'em I can still do it,"  so to speak, that may tarnish his Hall of Fame legacy (see Brett Favre). 

And that would be sad.

I have never really been a fan of the Braves or Glavine, but I think the organization may have mishandled this situation.  Glavine deserved better, in my estimation.  I think the Braves should not have extend his contract if they never intended on seeing him reach those "incentives."  

I think Glavine will likely pitch somewhere in 2009, but I don't think he should.  I think he should retire and join Greg Maddux and perhaps Mike Mussina as first-ballot Hall of Famers in the Class of 2013.