Glavine close to agreement on one-year deal with Braves

The Atlanta Braves and pitcher Tom Glavine moved close to agreement on a one-year contract, as the pitcher's agent confirmed that a deal could be in place as early as Sunday night.

"We're as close as you can be without doing a deal," agent Gregg Clifton told ESPN.com. "We're maybe one or two phone calls away."

Sources confirmed reports that Glavine's pending deal with Atlanta will be for one year in the $8 million range. While Glavine was flying home from a memorabilia show in Chicago, Clifton said he expected to be in contact with Braves general manager Frank Wren late Sunday night.

Glavine, 41, became a free agent when he declined a $13 million option with the New York Mets in early October. He went 13-8 with a 4.45 ERA for New York last season and became the 23rd pitcher in history to join the 300-win club. With 303 career victories, Glavine is the fifth winningest left-hander of all-time.

Glavine wants to pitch in Atlanta to be closer to his family. He broke in with the Braves in 1987 and spent his first 16 major league seasons in Atlanta. During that period, he compiled a 242-143 record, won two Cy Young Awards, made eight All-Star teams, was a five-time 20-game winner, and beat Cleveland 1-0 in the climactic Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.

Once Glavine signs with the Braves, he will join John Smoltz and Tim Hudson at the top of the Atlanta rotation. The Braves are also hoping for a return to form by Mike Hampton, who is trying to come back from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Glavine will be the second 41-year-old starter to sign a free-agent deal this offseason. Curt Schilling agreed to terms with Boston on a one-year, guaranteed $8 million contract two weeks ago.

Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN Insider.

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