Tom Glavine may never have been traded, but there are some remnants of his free agent contracts still out there, and two of them made it (or will make it) to the Majors this week. The first player is one I've tracked for some time, and that is the 18th pick in the 2008 draft, recently promoted Mets first baseman Ike Davis. He, or more accurately the 18th pick in the 2008 draft, was the price that the Braves paid for signing Tom Galvine as a free agent in the 2007-2008 off-season.
The Braves didn't get much out of Tom in his second go around with the team, but the Mets certainly gushed at the chance to nab such a high draft pick. Davis had a solid season last year in the minors and looks like he's lived up to his billing as an advanced college first baseman, and so far his work in the Majors has been good too:
But Ike wasn't the first time that Tom Glavine had netted a team a draft pick. Glavine departed the Braves the first time in the 2002-2003 off-season, and with the Mets first-round pick protected, the Braves got a compensatory selection. With the 35th pick in the 2003 draft they selected pitcher Luis Atilano... ever heard of him? After several unspectacular years in the low minors for Atlanta, Atilano had Tommy John surgery, and while still recovering from surgery in 2007 he was traded by the Braves to the Nationals in exchange for pinch hitter Daryle Ward.
It's taken eight seasons in the minors, but Atilano has finally made the slow climb up the ladder and will get the start for the Nationals against the Dodgers tonight, and while he hasn't blown anybody away in his minor league career, he could turn out to be a decent back of the rotation starter for the Nats. Really, nothing the Braves don't have in abundance in their system.
By the way, in 2003 we also received another pick in the third round as compensation for losing Glavine, and chose Jacob Stevens, who never panned out in five season in the Braves minor leagues. He is now in the Giants' double-A bullpen.
0 recs | 7 comments
Who’s Tom Galvine?
HereComesBream - April 23, 2010
Bringing back Tommy was not one of Wren’s best moves.
redwards95 - April 23, 2010
Sentimental moves
are rarely good moves, sad to say. We all wanted to see Tommy back in the fold, but the first round pick (not to mention the $$) was too much to give up. It’s too bad that the Mets didn’t blow that draft pick so we could feel better about it. Oh well, it’s mostly a moot point since we have our own good 1B prospect.
Jacob Peterson - April 23, 2010
I cannot believe he was even a type A. Bad move. Wren saw the light a year to late.
FitzFan - April 23, 2010
I think Wren realized that a year later.
gondeee - April 23, 2010
FWIW…kid pitched a solid game tonight. Shut down a solid Dodgers lineup for six innings and got the win.
DCP916 - April 23, 2010
Look at the Mets farm system, the worst in baseball. They got lucky with the extra draft pick and chose a prospect that has, to now, panned out. Look at all the other draft picks they have pissed away through the past few years.
Bringing Glavine back was a good move. No one could have known that he was going to get injured. The man had never spent a day on the DL before. If Glavine had the will, he could be pitching today; he is certainly no worse than Jamie Moyer as far as stuff and velocity. Plus, in bringing Glavine back, the Braves have shown that he is wanted as a valuable part of the organization
Mr. Glavine #47 - April 24, 2010
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