Pedro Will Pitch In '09

I hope the Mets' offer is to be the batting practice coach.

I see Pedro signing with the Nationals b/c that is the only team where he could be a serviceable starter.

If I were the Mets I would only visit Pedro if I strike out on the other major pitcher free agents.

At this point I would rather see Neise get a full season. Pedro had nothing left at the end of the year and it's time to move on from him. He gave the Mets credibility 4 years ago but really has done nothing on the field in the last 3 years.

Nationals would make a lot of sense actually. Could see something like San Diego to try and rebuild value for next year too.

I wouldn't go more than 1 year 3 million for Pedro with loads of incentives. He was pretty much a batting practice machine last season.

I see him getting that same 1 year deal too but frankly, I think this guys glory days are way over. At this point, he can probably only make a good #3 or #4 starter, provided he's healthy. I guess he could be a low-risk/high-reward type of player for the Padres or Dodgers maybe, if not the Mets? I just see him as a good fit in San Diego.

I honestly think that Pedro will need to make adjustments in becoming a different pitcher this late in his career because his velocity has diminished so much. In his second year post-op, I would honestly consider the Mets giving him an incentive-laden contract to stay here.

If it wasn't for that setback in Miami the second game of the season, who knows, maybe Pedro could've been effective this year. He has battled through a lot the past few years and the Mets will need all the depth they could get at starter. He's a good influence in the clubhouse and even though he was mostly brutal this year, I would consider bringing him back if the price is right. It is really a low-risk type of gamble at this point that would cost a hell of a lot less than a back-of-the-rotation starter such as Jon Garland or Randy Wolf.

I'd say a few things about this to rationalize it:

I'd trust spending money for an incentive-laden deal on Pedro than to go out and spend $8-$10 million a year on Jon Garland to be my fifth starter. That is a total waste of money. I agree wholeheartedly with giving Jon Niese a rotation spot and letting it ride, though.

Secondly, the Mets have had terrible trouble with pitching depth the past few years. Does anyone else realize that the Mets would've had their hot dog vendor pitching on Monday if there was a play-in game with Milwaukee? Between Brian Lawrence's wonderful comeback tour, bringing in Philip Humber the last week of the season in '07, retreads such as the wonderful Jorge Sosa, Nelson Figueroa, Claudio Vargas, calling on Jon Niese to save us this year, etc. - the Mets could really use a viable sixth starter in the likely event that someone goes down.

And since he is such a different pitcher than he was when he was dominating in both leagues, it sometimes takes veteran pitchers a year or two to adjust their stuff to what they are capable of pitching at the late points in their careers. Look at Mike Mussina in '07 compared to '08 as a case in point. Even Jamie Moyer got shelled one year in Seattle before recreating himself to great results. We are talking about a future Hall of Famer that battled a fluke injury last year and had rotator cuff surgery in his mid-30's. I'd tend to think that a guy like Pedro Martinez could readjust himself to Major League pitching with a full year of health under his belt.

Look, if you want to hate on Pedro because he took a big contract from the Mets and didn't deliver that is fine, but remember that signing changed the culture of the club. I think too many people are all jumping the gun on Pedro being finished. The guy was obviously hurt last year.

I just don't necessarily see a market out there for Pedro that would trump anything the Mets would have to offer. I think he would take a deal from Omar to remain a Met if the price was right and he could finish what he started with this team. I think he genuinely likes playing here - there comes a time when it's not all about a big contract, which won't even matter with him because the market would be there for him to get one.

I agree with you that he was extremely effective in '05 and that was his last GREAT(if not very good) year, but he was even serviceable in '06 on the brink of surgery when it was obvious that he had lost something.

I'm looking at this with the idea that this team needs to revamp this bullpen, perhaps pick up a hitter, and another starter. With the starting pitching market the way it is, there is no way I throw $8 million a year for someone like Garland. I'd rather give Pedro an incentive-laden contract and see what he has left from the start. Plus, who knows what could happen in the first place with this rotation out the gate, with Maine's health hopefully returning to 100% next year with the bone spur removed and Niese's development. I'd rather have six capable starters signed in March than five with the possibility of guys like Nelson Figueroa and Brian Lawrence pitching meaningful games in July and August again when someone goes down.

I just don't buy the idea that someone is completely done at 36 that is a surefire Hall of Famer. Speaking from this generation alone, there hasn't been a pitcher that comes to my mind that is a Hall of Famer that just dies out at that age. Pedro is way too crafty and smart of a pitcher to not be effective if he is healthy.

Again, not exactly saying that he should be resigned, but if the price is right it's definitely a consideration.

I wouldn't mind Pedro pitching in Detroit if he will take a one-year 3 mil deal, AND if the Tigers don't resign Freddy Garcia first.

I respect what Pedro Martinez has done, he's had a great career but look at the last year or 2 of Pedro pitching and he doesn't look happy. He's been reduced to batting practice.

No agent is going to convince me he's all of a sudden going to suddenly turn him into the fireballer he was with the Red Sox.

Pedro will be a serviceable backend of the rotation starter but having a backup plan in case Pedro goes down is a must for any team.

I think a one year incentive-laden deal wouldn't be too bad for the Mets, as long as we have a backup plan ready.

As a die-hard Mets fan, it was painful to watch Pedro in 2008 after he returned from those injuries.

However, I'm not ready to COMPLETELY give up on him. He was great for us in 2005. Above average in 2006 when he actually pitched. 137 K's in 132 IP.

His short time in 2007 got all of our hopes up. Had 32 K's in 28 IP, but was giving up base hit after base hit it seemed like.

His 2008 was fairly abysmal, and alot of it had to do with his control, which is VERY Un-Pedro like. He doesn't throw nearly as hard anymore, but could still get by with his movement and control(when he has it, i.e. the prior 3 seasons)

I find it hard to believe one of the best pitchers of all-time lost his command over the span of a season, rather than him being rusty and accustomed to the plethora of injuries/surgeries he had last offseason.

If he could finally spend an entire off-season getting ready for the season, and actually working for money...I think he could be a serviceable back-end starter.

Please bring him back Omar. Whoever signs Pedro will get a great deal here. He is finally healthy after 3 years of pitching hurt. There is no reason he cannot duplicate what he did in 05 and the first half of 06 now that he is recovered from all of his injuries. Second year back from arm surgery, which means his pin-point command should be a lot closer to what we are used to then what we saw in 08. His velocity is fine. He can sit at 88 and pump it up to 91/92 if he needs to. His changeup and breaking ball are still plus pitches, and once his command returns, which it will, he will be a very useful asset in the rotation, especially on a one year deal.

"The Mets will have Santana-Pelfrey at the top. At the bottom, they'll have Niese. Do you really want to fill one of the in-between spots with Pedro? Again, Pedro won't sign as an insurance policy in case Niese flops or is not ready....he wants the ball from the moment he signs the contract."

What makes you think Jon Niese is ready? He isn't going anywhere, let him spend another year in the minors. He looked okay during his cup of coffee, but he also looks like a pitcher that could get destroyed by a good RH heavy lineup. He is no sure thing. I will take Pedro over Niese for 2009 without even pausing to consider it.