NEW YORK -- Tom Glavine has spent much of his career trying to prevent the New York Mets from winning.

No Valentine to Bobby

Tom Glavine said Monday that Bobby Valentine's firing made the Mets signing him possible. "If it were the case (that Valentine was still managing), I don't think these guys would have been on my list," Glavine told WFAN radio at Shea Stadium. "I don't want to disrespect Bobby, but I must admit that it's part of the equation." Glavine was outspoken about how much he enjoyed playing for Bobby Cox, Valentine's foil over the past six-plus seasons. And he has said Cox's straightforward approach and "professionalism" are among the reasons he enjoyed his 16 seasons in Atlanta and had hoped to return. That Valentine and Cox openly disliked each other was not the reason Glavine would have ruled out the Mets. It was the difference in their managing styles. "When you play for one manager for a long time and make a change, the change is going to be hard enough," Glavine said. "But to make a switch 180 degrees to the other side? That would have been difficult." Valentine's tenure with the Mets was tumultuous. He was often accused by players of being manipulative and his distaste for general manager Steve Phillips has been well documented. Valentine did not return a phone call from Newsday. Additionally, the hiring of Art Howe as the team's new manager was attractive to Glavine. Howe has said that he feels Glavine's clubhouse presence will add "class" and a "winning attitude." "I am very impressed with Art Howe," Glavine said. "He has a lot of the same characteristics in his approach as Bobby Cox. -- ESPN.com news services

Now, the Mets are counting on Glavine to reverse two years of disappointment.

Glavine, one of the biggest free-agent acquisitions in Mets history, was officially introduced Monday after taking a physical. He agreed last week to a $35 million, three-year contract. The deal includes an option for a fourth year, based on innings pitched, that could make it worth $42.5 million.

"The chapter in Atlanta is over now," Glavine said. "I look forward to beginning a new chapter in New York. I look forward to coming here and bringing the New York Mets to that next level they're trying to get to."

Glavine, 36, had spent his entire 16-year major league career with the Braves. He won two Cy Young Awards, posted five 20-win seasons and helped lead them to 11 straight division titles.

Eight of those titles came after the Braves moved to the NL East -- with the Mets finishing second four times. Glavine was 16-7 lifetime against the Mets and also pitched seven scoreless innings to beat New York in Game 3 of the 1999 NL Championship Series.

Glavine will head a rotation that includes Al Leiter, Pedro Astacio and Steve Trachsel. Just before a midnight deadline Saturday, Trachsel agreed to an $8 million, two-year contract to stay with the Mets.

"It came down to the final half-hour, and we were able to hammer it out," Trachsel said. "There were definitely some times I didn't think it would get done."

Glavine will be the most important element in returning the Mets to contention. After winning the NL pennant in 2000, the Mets struggled the past two seasons.

Despite a huge payroll and the addition of big-name players such as Roberto Alomar and Mo Vaughn, the stumbled to a 75-86 last-place finish, leaving them 26½ games behind the Braves and costing manager Bobby Valentine his job.

Glavine was 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA this year. He is 242-143 with a 3.37 ERA lifetime.

He had been with the Braves longer than any active player. John Smoltz, who joined Atlanta a year after Glavine, hoped the two star pitchers could have finished their career together.

"Tommy and I had been through a lot together," Smoltz said. "Selfishly, I've been very disappointed this week because that's something we never really talked about but we both wanted to do."