Tom Glavine hasn't received a contract offer from the Atlanta Braves as he nears a decision on where he wants to play next season, a development that has increased the likelihood he will return to the New York Mets.

Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, said the two-time Cy Young Award winner has told the Mets he would make a decision by the winter meetings, which start Monday. Glavine said he wanted to spend time with his family before deciding whether to stay with the Mets, who signed him before the 2003 season, or return to the Braves, his team from 1987-2002.

Clifton said he has spoken with Braves general manager John Schuerholz several times about Glavine.

``He can't even evaluate that they really want him if he doesn't have an offer,'' Clifton said Wednesday. ``The bottom line is, we're waiting to see if Atlanta wants to make a proposal to us. We've had really nice dialogue on a few occasions and we've kind of left it: We're open. We're waiting for John to give us a call if he would like to.''

Under a preset arrangement, Glavine and the Mets both declined 2007 options this month.

Clifton said Glavine originally thought his decision would be based on whether he wanted to return to the Atlanta area, where his family lives.

``As time has gone on, I think it's actually been the potential pull and the desire to go back to New York and be a Met that has delayed this process and further complicated his decision-making,'' Clifton said.

Schuerholz never comments on free agents until after Atlanta has a signed agreement with them. The Mets have said repeatedly that they hope Glavine decides to stay.

Clifton and the Mets agreed that they wouldn't start negotiations on a new contract until after Glavine makes a decision that he wants to return to New York.

``They're showing an incredible amount of class,'' Clifton said, ``because at the end of the day they have allowed him to do everything he asked to, which was to go home, to get back into the normal family mode and give him an opportunity to really think this thing through. I think it's working to their advantage, to be honest with you.''

© The Canadian Press, 2007