The Associated Press

ATLANTA - Greg Maddux decided to stay with the Atlanta Braves, accepting the team's offer of salary arbitration Thursday.

The four-time Cy Young Award winner had been a free agent. Accepting arbitration is the equivalent of signing a one-year deal for the 2003 season.

Maddux, a 36-year-old right-hander, made the decision Wednesday night, according to agent Scott Boras, and told the team of his decision about eight hours before the midnight deadline.

"At this point in time, at least for this year, they wanted to return to Atlanta and give it one more shot of winning there," Boras said.

Unless they agree on a contract, Atlanta and Maddux will exchange proposed salaries for a one-year contract in mid-January and will argue their cases before three arbitrators the following month.

Maddux is coming off a $57.5 million, five-year contract, and he is expected to ask for an arbitration record. The highest figure submitted for a player was $18.5 million by the Yankees' Derek Jeter in 2001.

Maddux and the Braves can negotiate up to the hearing date - or even after the hearing.

His acceptance gives Atlanta a surplus of pitchers. Atlanta added two starters Tuesday, trading for San Francisco's Russ Ortiz and signing free agent Paul Byrd, who won 17 games last season with Kansas City.

Last month, Atlanta acquired Mike Hampton from Colorado in a three-team deal, and the Braves return Kevin Millwood and Jason Marquis from last year's rotation.

Tom Glavine left the Braves, agreeing to a three-year contract with the New York Mets.

With the Braves hoping to trim payroll, one of the other starters is likely to be traded.

"I think it's been well-publicized that we're working under certain parameters for next season," assistant general manager Frank Wren said. "That means we will some starting pitching to deal with."

Wren said negotiations for a long-term deal with Maddux will continue, but, "Right now, we're preparing for an arbitration hearing."

"We intend to talk to them," Boras said. "We're really kind of beginning the process."

No other teams publicly said they were pursuing Maddux, a likely Hall of Famer.

"Many clubs at the ownership level were interested in him," Boras said.

Maddux was 16-6 last season, winning at least 15 games for the 15th straight year to tie the record set by Cy Young. Maddux has a 2.62 ERA, second-best in the NL behind Arizona's Randy Johnson, and he won his 13th straight Gold Glove Award.

Ortiz, 28, is owed $4.6 million in 2003 and the Braves have a club option for $5.7 million in 2004. Byrd is guaranteed $10 million: He gets $3 million in 2003 and has a $7 million player option for 2004.

Millwood is eligible for arbitration.

In addition to Maddux, Atlanta offered arbitration to three other free agents: outfielder Darren Bragg, first baseman Julio Franco and infielder Keith Lockhart.

INDIANS: Right-hander Jason Bere signed a $1 million, one-year deal with Cleveland.

Bere pitched for the Indians in the second half of the 2000 season, going 6-3 with a 5.02 ERA in 11 starts.

PHILLIES: Utility outfielder Ricky Ledee agreed to an $850,000, one-year contract with Philadelphia. Ledee hit .227 with eight homers and 23 RBI in 96 games last season, mostly coming off the bench.

PIRATES: Right-hander Brian Meadows avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $600,000, one-year contract with Pittsburgh. The split contract would reduce his salary to $150,000 if he pitches in the minors.