ATLANTA -- Leo Mazzone has guided the best pitching staff in baseball for more than a decade. He'll keep his job with the Atlanta Braves after rebuffing interest from the New York Mets.

Mazzone, whose contract was to expire Dec. 31, re-signed on Thursday as the pitching coach of the Braves. He received a significant raise over his salary this year, approximately $200,000.

The New York Mets had asked permission to talk with Mazzone, but he wanted to remain in Atlanta.

"Forget it,'' Mazzone said. "I'm an Atlanta Brave. I'm very pleased with what I got here. They were very fair. I'm pleased with everything.''

General manager John Schuerholz said he met with the coach on Thursday and he expressed a desire to remain with the Braves.

Under Mazzone, Atlanta's pitchers have ranked first or second in the major leagues in earned run average every season beginning in 1992.

Even so, his salary last season was barely half that of the Cardinals' Dave Duncan, the highest-paid pitching coach at more than $400,000. Mazzone declined to comment on specifics of his new deal.

"I think everybody here is comfortable with Leo,'' starter Kevin Millwood said. "He's done a great job here, and everybody knows what to expect from him. You don't have to worry about getting used to a new guy. I think everybody will be pleased to see him back.''

Mazzone has been with the Braves organization since 1979. He had a brief stint as Atlanta's co-pitching coach in 1985, then returned to the post in June 1990 after Bobby Cox was hired as manager.