Just as free-agent left-hander Tom Glavine prepares to make counteroffers to the Phillies and Mets, Phillies chairman Bill Giles told Newsday on Friday he expects Glavine to return to the Atlanta Braves.

	Tom Glavine Starting pitcher Free agent Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM IP W-L BB SO ERA 36 224.2 18-11 78 127 2.96

"That's the impression we have," Giles said.

"We told him, 'Think about us over the weekend, and if you're still interested come Monday, we'll be happy to talk more,' " Giles said. "But we think he's headed back there."

Glavine, who met with Philadelphia again Friday, said he was impressed with both the Mets and Phillies, and will speak with his agent, Greg Clifton. He plans to submit a counterproposal to both teams Monday or Tuesday to see how much each team is willing to sweeten their offers.

The Mets and Phillies made three-year offers to Glavine worth about $9 million to $10 million annually (New York's deal is reportedly for a little more than Philly's). The Braves offered a two-year deal with an option for 2005 that could become guaranteed based on starts and innings.

"I've been less than thrilled with the way negotiations have gone in Atlanta," Glavine said. "The Braves had an opportunity to make something happen to not get to this point."

Neither the Mets nor the Phillies changed their initial offers during Glavine's recent visits, though there was the suggestion that a fourth year, or at least the possibility of a fourth year, be included in the next offers.

A Mets official told Newsday in a story published Sunday that Mets owner Fred Wilpon is prepared to offer Glavine a fourth year in some form, probably as a vesting option. If the Mets follow through, it would put them clearly in the lead to sign Glavine, a five-time 20-game winner.

It is uncertain whether the Mets would ultimately guarantee the fourth year with no conditions attached, but the next phase in the negotiating process will be to offer it as an option.

"Four is the magic number," said Glavine, who also said a fourth year is not a deal-breaker. He also said if he had to pick one team right now, he couldn't.

"Three hundred wins is a goal for me," said Glavine, who has 242 career victories. "It's somewhat achievable. I don't want to be at 290 wins three years from now, looking for a team to play for."

Mets general manager Steve Phillips called Clifton on Friday and left a message, according to Newsday's story. It is not believed the two had spoken as of Saturday evening. The Mets are expecting to hear from Clifton on Monday or Tuesday for more negotiations, but Glavine isn't expected to make a decision until after Thanksgiving.

Phillies general manager Ed Wade wouldn't say whether his team is willing to give Glavine a guaranteed four-year deal. Glavine will be 37 when next season starts, but has never been on the disabled list.

"Our initial offer was aggressive and the rest of it is left to the negotiating process," Wade said.

Glavine compared the Phillies' pool of young players to the Braves of the early 1990s.

He has not spoken with Jim Thome, whom the Phillies have made a five-year offer to -- but says he might in the near future.

Glavine, the most coveted free-agent pitcher on the market, met with the Phillies on Friday, a day after he visited the Mets. Both teams are trying to persuade the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner to leave Atlanta, his team for 16 years.

After 11 straight trips to the playoffs with the Braves, Glavine wants to stay with a winning team. He was impressed by the Phillies' run two years ago, when they chased the Braves until the final week and finishing two games behind in the NL East.

"With the race they put on in 2001, you obviously saw the emergence of some of their younger players," Glavine said. "I know they were disappointed in the season they had last year, but that's part of the growing pains of getting to the next level. Adding veteran players to that mix is only going to help, it's going to take pressure off the young guys. It stabilizes things."

The Phillies have been the most aggressive team in free agency this offseason, targeting Glavine, Thome and David Bell, who signed a four-year contract with the club Sunday worth $17 million. Getting two or all three of the players would increase Philadelphia's chances of ending Atlanta's unprecedented 11-year run of dominance.

"To do what the Braves have done is not the norm," Glavine said. "But they're not going to do it forever. Their run is going to end sooner or later. I don't know when. I look at the Phillies team and it reminds me of our club in the early 90s. They're a good group of young players on the verge of doing some special things. They are a couple of veterans away from maybe getting to that next level."

Glavine and his wife, Christine, arrived in Philadelphia on Thursday night, and attended the Flyers' NHL game against the San Jose Sharks. On Friday, he toured the site for the Phillies' new stadium set to open in 2004 and later visited potential neighborhoods where he could live.

Glavine said he hasn't set a timetable for his decision. Clifton said Thursday the Braves wouldn't get a final shot to keep Glavine.

Glavine was 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA this season, but went 7-9 with a 4.24 ERA after June 16 and was battered by the Giants in two playoff losses. He was 7-5 with a 4.55 ERA at the All-Star break two years, but went 9-2 with a 2.53 ERA in his final 16 starts.

Four-time NL Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, another of Atlanta's stellar starters, also became a free agent following the World Series. The Braves have already acquired left-hander Mike Hampton and are unlikely to sign both of their free-agent pitchers.

If the Phillies don't get Glavine, they will pursue left-hander Jamie Moyer. Wade said he has talked to Moyer, but hasn't made him an offer. Moyer, who turns 40 next season, was 13-8 with a 3.32 ERA for the Seattle Mariners this season. He has averaged 15 wins over the last seven years.

Wade has also spoken to Maddux's agent, Scott Boras.

"He's a guy that would fill the need that we have right now," Wade said. "I can't go beyond that as to how significant our interest is in him or his is in us."

Thome, who hit 52 homers for the Cleveland Indians this season, received an offer of $75 million for five years from the Phillies. The Indians presented him with a four-year deal worth about $45 million on Oct. 31, but are expected to make another offer soon. Wade said Thome's agent, Pat Rooney, told him the two-time All-Star is close to making a decision.

Bell, who hit .261 with 20 homers and 73 RBI this season, helped the San Francisco Giants reach the World Series. The Phillies offered him at least a three-year deal worth $13 million. Bell left Philadelphia on Thursday after a four-night stay, and also is considering the Giants' offer to keep him. Wade expects to hear from Bell's agent, Tom Reich, early next week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.