Wow. Just wow.

This afternoon the Braves announced that they had released veteran Tom Glavine. Despite putting up good numbers in his last two minor league rehab starts (a combined 11 scoreless innings), the Braves released the future Hall of Famer citing concerns about his velocity. I think that is a load of crap.

The Braves had Glavine do all of this rehab and for what? I know the Braves have a surplus of starting pitching right now, but you can’t tell me that Glavine shouldn’t be given an opportunity to see if he could get out major league hitters. I think this was a purely economic decision. Glavine was due to get $1 million upon his activation and other bonuses were to kick in every 30 days he was on the active roster. I think the Braves should have at least given him a start or two. If he gets bombed, then you let him go. To do so after he rehabs well and forces the issue is not fair to Glavine. Glavine’s agent said that Tom still feels like he can pitch. I’ll be interested to see if any team desperate for pitching comes calling, especially since Glavine had previously said he would only come back to pitch for the Braves.

On the plus side, the Braves made a move to shore up the outfield by acquiring Nate McLouth from the Pirates for three highly regarded prospects in Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke, and Gorkys Hernandez. I look for McLouth to be the Braves centerfielder for the rest of the season while Jordan Schafer figures things out at AAA. McLouth has played all three outfield positions and could move to left next season after Garret Anderson becomes a free agent if Schafer is ready to go then. McLouth is signed through 2012 (club option in ‘12), so any concerns about acquiring a rent-a-player are negated.