When is it time?

Just as Stephen Strasburg signs a record deal with the Nationals, two sure fire Hall of Famers seem near the end. One looks like he has accepted it, the other no. Whether it is the money or just the competitive juices, it is hard to know when it is time to say goodbye.
Tom Glavine has won over 300 games. He is a class act. He was not overpowering, just effective. Despite an injury he was attempting one last comeback with the Atlanta Braves. He pitched well in a minor league rehab start, but the Braves released him. To date he has not been picked up. This may mean a lack of interest, although I doubt that, or that Glavine has realized it is time to start running that five year clock on the Hall of Fame.
His former teammate, John Smoltz is not going so quietly into the night. A comeback with the Red Sox was a disaster, producing an E.R.A. of over 8.00. He was released and is apparently out there looking for another team to pitch for. Baseball being in desperate need of pitching, witness giving a college kid $15 million before he throws a professional pitch, I imagine someone will pick him up. What will be different? With a 2 or three week layoff will that fastball suddenly return to form? Will the slider remind us of the mid 1990s John Smoltz? Doubtful.
Knowing when to say goodbye is tough. The money seems to make it even harder. I remember Dave Winfield ending his career in a Twins or Indians uniform and Steve Carlton pitching middle relief for the Twins. Even before the really big money however, Babe Ruth suited up for the Boston Braves, Warren Spahn wound down with the mid 1960s Mets and Willie Mays stumbled in the outfield for the Mets.
Maybe Stephen Strasburg will be a Hall of Famer. With his signing bonus he should never have to worry about working again. Let's hope that whenever the times comes, he knows how to say goodbye.