When Tommy arrived back in Atlanta, he got a call from the general manager of the Braves.
“We want to write up a new contract for you, Tommy,” Steve Bailey said.
Bailey had previously met with Showalter. They decided that in order to create goodwill and pave the way for re-signing their new superstar before he reached free agency, it would be best to act now. An unusual gesture toward someone who had only been in the big leagues a few months.
Tommy felt a rush of excitement. “Should I bring an agent?” he inquired.
Bailey hesitated for a few seconds. “Do you have an agent?”
“No, not right now,” Tommy said.
“Well, you can find one if you don’t want to represent yourself. Ask the other players. They can probably refer you to someone we’ve worked with.”
When Tommy got off the phone, he
