Atlanta ? The Atlanta Braves have exercised the team’s $8 million option for 2007 with John Smoltz, ensuring the right-hander will return for his 19th season with the team.

The announcement was made before Smoltz started for the Braves at Colorado on Thursday night. It came one day after the Braves agreed on a $6.5 million, one-year extension with closer Bob Wickman.

“I’m happy I know I’m going to be playing here next year,” Smoltz said before the game.

Smoltz, 39, had expressed frustration earlier in the season that the team had waited this long to exercise the 2007 option.

The 1996 NL Cy Young Award winner has a 190-137 career record with 154 saves and a 3.29 earned-run average in 18 seasons, all with the Braves. He’s the only player to have been with the team for each of its 14 straight division titles.