A few more John Hancock's.

Both Tom Glavine and Mike Lowell inked deals today, Glavine is to return to the Braves with a 1 year, $8 million deal. Lowell will remain with the Red Sox following his World Series MVP performance, signing a 3 year, $37.5 million contract. Tom Glavine will be 42 when the season begins, and Lowell will be 34, respectively.

No big surprise with either of these signings. Both players left money on the table to sign these contracts. Supposedly teams such as the Phillies offered Lowell a fourth year, and Glavine decline a $13 million option to remain with the Mets. When asked why, amongst his reasons was that the 5 day period you have to decide on your option was not enough time considering retirement was an option. Another reason Glavine gave was that he didn't feel that he was a $13 million pitcher anymore.

Sorry Tom, I'm buying that retirement was an option for a few seconds, but then you remembered that your last start was absolutely horrific (1/3 IP's 9 Runs) and you were not going out like that, which is a decision we all can respect. Your price was set when Schilling signed his one year $8M contract with the Red Sox. He's there #2, your going to be the #4 starter in the Brave rotation. The market was set and there was no way anybody was going to hand you $10-13M a year.

I'm not sure what to make of 42 year old pitchers with 84 MPH fastballs. Is it that the talent pool has become incredibly shallow? Is it the current player's conditioning? Could it be that my secret potion for longevity that I concocted in 8th grade out of some grade B plutonium, Coco Puffs, and my neighbor's training bra has been stolen? Nah, it's just steroids.