Paul Byrd's previous stint with the Atlanta Braves wasn't exactly a lengthy one. But despite lasting just one year, he still thought enough of the surroundings to build a home and raise his family in the area.
Thus when it finally came time for Byrd to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2002 season, his agent, Bo McKinnis, knew exactly what his talented right-handed client's first choice would be.
"Paul has been waiting five years to come back to the Braves," McKinnis said. "He's always hoped that this opportunity would come."
McKinnis' comments came Tuesday afternoon, moments after he had reached an agreement with the Braves to ensure Byrd would once again be wearing a tomahawk across his chest. He will earn $3 million in 2003 and have the option of returning for the 2004 season -- during which he would earn $7 million.
But money was far from being the deciding factor in Byrd's decision to return to the Braves. McKinnis said they left a sizable amount of money on the table by choosing Atlanta. Instead, some of his decision was actually based on the opportunity to spend more time with friends like John Smoltz and Terry Pendleton.
The Braves did a little last-minute recruiting of Byrd when John Schuerholz, Bobby Cox and Smoltz all placed phone calls to the right-hander on Monday night. "It meant a lot," Byrd said. "It's always nice to know that you are wanted. I was glad the Braves were interested. I pitched here before and I dropped the ball a little bit."
Byrd's previous stint with the Braves came in 1997. With a talented bunch of pitchers in front of him, Byrd spent much of the time in the bullpen and made four starts. He thought the long periods of inactivity that came while serving as a reliever caused him to struggle some that season and early in the next, before the Braves released him to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever Norm Charlton.
"I didn't get to pitch a lot when I was here before," Byrd said. "It wasn't anyone's fault. The Braves had made great choices and had too many good pitchers."
One of the more bizarre moments in Turner Field history involved Byrd, then with the Phillies.
It was midway through the 1999 season and Byrd's Phillies were in Atlanta. The two teams had played in Philadelphia the weekend before and Byrd had hit Braves catcher Eddie Perez with a pitch during that series' final game.
So when Byrd promptly hit Perez during his first at-bat of the series in Atlanta, the mild-mannered Perez took exception and glared toward the mound. But it wasn't until Byrd came to the plate the next half-inning that the confrontation turned physical.
As soon as Byrd stepped in the batter's box, words were exchanged. Perez then dropped his catcher's mitt and proceeded to wrestle Byrd to the ground. As both benches emptied to join the fight between two friends, the action came to a rather sudden end when Byrd began praying.
When Perez heard this, he said, "Paully, Paully, are you with me?"
"I really thought I had lost him," Perez would later say.
The Braves did lose Byrd for a period of time. But now that the right-hander has developed into an All-Star-caliber pitcher, they have found a way to bring him right back where he wanted to be.
There's still no indication which spot in the rotation he will fill or even which number he will wear. But that obviously doesn't bother him.
"I'm not partial or superstitious," Byrd said. "I've played for so many teams. I'm just happy to be playing where I'm playing, and I'm looking forward to showing how I have improved."
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Adapted from article on the MLB.com web site.