Glavine, in New York state of mind, stays with Mets

Tom Glavine is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing yesterday to a $10.5 million, one-year contract and opting against a possible return to the Atlanta Braves.

Now the Mets can relax as they talk to free agent ace Barry Zito and discuss possible trades. "With Tommy now on board, I think we still will look at ways to improve the starting rotation," general manager Omar Minaya said.

Glavine is 10 wins shy of 300 after going 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA this year. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner went 2-1 (1.59 ERA) in three playoffs starts.

"I wrestled with it," he said. "Everybody who knows me knows how important my family is." His family lives in the Atlanta area.

At the end of last season, Glavine said he wasn't sure whether he wanted to return to the Braves, his team from 1987-2002, or stay with the Mets.

His deal calls for a $7.5 million salary next year and contains a $9 million player option for 2008 that would become guaranteed if he pitches 160 innings next season, when he will be 41. The price of the option would increase by $1 million for each additional 10 innings up to a maximum price of $13 million.

Glavine said the Braves never made a proposal.

The Giants were busy yesterday. They re-signed Ray Durham to a two-year contract that will pay the second baseman between $14 million and $15 million. They agreed to terms with Padres outfielder Dave Roberts on a three-year contract for $18 million, according to SanDiego.com. And they declined to offer salary arbitration to Barry Bonds but can still negotiate with the free agent. "The Giants' actions demonstrate that Barry obviously is not a priority to them," agent Jeff Borris said . . . Left fielder Scott Podsednik agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with the White Sox . . . Among the 25 free agents who were offered arbitration by their former teams before the midnight deadline were pitchers Jason Schmidt (San Francisco), David Wells (San Diego), Ted Lilly (Toronto), and Mark Mulder and Jeff Suppan (St. Louis) . . . Former manager Buck Showalter joined the Indians as a senior adviser.

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell said his probe into steroid use in baseball has been delayed because he lacks power to order testimony. Mitchell was hired by commissioner Bud Selig last March following more than a year of allegations against Bonds, Mark McGwire, and others. "When I began, I was, of course, aware that I do not have the power to compel testimony or the production of documents," he said. "From the outset I believed that the absence of such power would significantly increase the amount of time necessary to complete the investigation, and it has." No player is known to have testified . . . Selig says he plans to retire in three years -- and he means it this time. "My contract is going to be over. I'm going to be 75 years of age. I want to teach -- I've already had some great offers -- and want to write a book."