NEW YORK -- Tom Glavine received his long-awaited offer from the New York Mets on Friday, a three-year deal worth about $31 million.

	Tom Glavine Starting Pitcher Free agent Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA 36 18 11 0 127 2.96

The Philadelphia Phillies also have made a three-year offer to the 36-year-old left-hander, a contract worth between $27 million and $30 million.

Atlanta, Glavine's only team since he was drafted in 1984, have offered only a one-year deal for about $9 million.

Gregg Clifton, the agent for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, had been awaiting the offer since his client spoke Thursday with Mets owner Fred Wilpon.

"We were pleased,'' Clifton said. "It certainly shows sincerity on the part of the Mets. We look forward to continuing our dialogue and finalizing our visit next week.''

Glavine most likely will visit the Mets on Thursday, then travel to Philadelphia for the Flyers' NHL game against San Jose that night and visit Friday with the Phillies. Philadelphia already has given free-agent slugger Jim Thome a tour of the construction site of its new ballpark, scheduled to open in 2004.

The approximate amount of the Mets' offer was revealed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity. New York general manager Steve Phillips declined comment, spokesman Jay Horwitz said.

"I spoke to the Glavines yesterday, Steve made an offer to Tom's agent, Gregg Clifton today, and he's waiting to hear back from Mr. Clifton,'' Mets owner Fred Wilpon said in a statement.

Clifton said he had spoken this week with Braves general manager John Schuerholz and warned that time was running short for Atlanta to make a competitive offer. The Braves also must decide whether to try to re-sign Greg Maddux, their other Cy Young Award-winning starter who became a free agent.

"If the Atlanta Braves are interested in having the services of Tom Glavine for next year and beyond, they're going to have to step up and make an offer,'' Clifton said. "They should not anticipate Tom coming back to them at the very end, simply out of respect for the Mets and the Phillies and the professionalism they've showed him.''

Glavine was 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA this year, and has a 242-143 career record. The Mets have been seeking a staff ace since Mike Hampton became a free agent after the 2000 season and signed with the Colorado Rockies.