How do you put a red tag in Tom Glavine's locker?

Dear Frank Wren,


I know you are new at this job. This team is mostly the work of your predecessor and you cannot be entirely to blame for the Braves being 26-26 (I guess you really can't be given the credit either). Also, you were not the GM during the run of 14 straight division titles. You may not be entirely familiar with the team from that era. I can sum up the team for you in 6 names: Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Leo Mazzone. You may know Bobby and Chipper as they are still your manager and third baseman, respectively. There were others than were part of that run, integral members even, however to Braves fans everywhere - those 6 names are the Mount Rushmore of Atlanta baseball (perhaps with Hank Aaron thrown in as well). This spring you lost out on bidding for John Smoltz to the Boston Red Sox. Fans were a bit upset, but understanding that these are tough economic times, Smoltz certainly doesn't need the money, and after all you tried. You offered him a contract. Then you redeemed yourself and re-signed Tom Glavine for one more year. It was a smart deal, requiring Tom to make it to the majors before the incentives kicked in. Tom was looking at off season surgery and is 43 years old. If he wasn't going to make a full recovery from surgery you weren't on the hook for millions of dollars.
Let's fast forward to this spring when you were faced with Tim Hudson not coming back until mid-season and Glavine being delayed at least a month as he recovered from surgery. At this point Tommy Hanson, the greatest pitching prospect since Phil Hughes (ok bad example there) was throwing the cover off the ball in spring training. However, you decided to start him in AAA. You can claim you wanted Tommy to gain more experience all you want - but everyone who knows baseball knows that the Matt Wieters', David Price's, and Tommy Hanson's of the world are not brought up at the beginning of seasons to allow another year before they are arbitration eligible. Its a weird rule that I am sure saves the club money, but has absolutely nothing to do with baseball. This is the guy you wouldn't trade for Jake Peavy, he was in the minors with a sub 2.00 ERA and he was being left to dominate AAA hitters so the Braves could get another year of his services at a discount.

Ok Mr Wren - so far I am with you. These have all been shrewd moves to help a team with a smaller pay-role compete. Then you went and cut Tom Glavine and ruined everything. Yesterday, after throwing eleven scoreless innings in the minors Tom Glavine was cut by the Atlanta Braves. That's right Mr. Wren, you decided to chop off a face from Mount Rushmore. It would have cost the Braves 1 million dollars when he was called up and another 1.5 million if he stayed up in the majors for 30 days. Tom had done everything you had asked of him. He had signed the incentive laden contract. He was 43 and had surgery to repair his arm. He went to the minors and rehabbed exceedingly well. And then this guy, who has won 305 games, who is responsible his fair share of the 14 straight division titles, who has been a model citizen in Atlanta for nearly 20 years, was shown the door.

And naturally, that's when you decide to call up Tommy Hanson, the same day you cut Tommy Glavine. I know your staff is doing well, but you can't tell me there isn't room on that 25 man roster for a guy who has thrown 11 scoreless innings in the minors and is on Mount Rushmore of your team.

You simply don't cut this guy. Never. He leaves and retires when he is ready. Look at Boston - Big Papi isn't hitting his weight, hell he isn't hitting Dustin Pedroia's weight, but each day Terry Franconia puts him in the lineup. He has earned the right to decide when its time.

Congratulations Frank, you took what should be the most exciting start of the season for the Braves, Tommy Hanson's debut, and thrown it under the rubble by cutting a HOFer on the same day.

If you want I am sure many teams will take Chipper Jones off your hands for a player to be named later.

Best of luck down the stretch,
No Run Support