2:46pm: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki says the Phillies and Martinez are not actively negotiating a contract. He says the two sides are maintaining contact, but nothing is imminent.
7:47am: Chalk one up for the Spanish-speaking side of the Bristol office. Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., gave an interview in Spanish to ESPN Deportes' Will Gonzalez yesterday, noting that the defending NL champions are currently negotiating with Pedro Martinez in regard to another midseason return to Philadelphia (link and audio in Spanish).
Pedro reportedly started throwing just last week, and Amaro insists there is no rush to sign on either side. "Right now he's trying to train, still not ready to pitch," he explains, though Pedro insisted recently that he doesn't need long to be in game shape. Amaro said earlier this month that Joe Blanton's oblique injury wouldn't be enough to spur the team into signing Pedro, but noted to Gonzalez that "we're going to continue to communicate openly" with Martinez as the season unfolds and the team's needs become clear.
This winter, Pedro floated the number of $5MM for his full-season services, the same number he stuck to, in prorated form, in negotiations through June of last season. Amaro dismisses any idea that the team was about to bite at that figure during the offseason when he recalls, "We talked two or three times (this winter). In those moments, he had other ideas of how he would like to be paid." With the season now underway, the general manager puts the ball in Pedro's court, potentially setting the stage for another late spring saga of public negotiations. "The doors are open," Amaro says. "But as in all negotiations, things depend on both sides. It not only has to do with the team, (it's also) the player."
I love the Phillies strategy this year. Sign all old, washed up pitchers.
For half a season at less than $2.5MM, I’d still take Pedro. For a full season at $5MM he presents a greater risk, but to say that he’s totally done is I think premature. He put up decent numbers–not phenomenal Pedro-in-his-prime numbers sure–last year. I think he can probably do that again this year.
Which was more “washed up” about Pedro’s 2009? The 1.25 WHIP or the 4.6 K/BB? The 5-1 record or the 3.63 ERA?
Let’s see him pitch a full season…
like that ‘has-been’ halladay
Sorry, after knowing that the Phils signed Contreras, and Baez, there wasn’t really else they signed. Try to ignore my ignorant comment!
It worked fine for them last year.
I wish MLB could institute some sort of rule to do away with these Roger Clemens type mid-season contracts.
Why?
I agree… Why?
It’s kind of a no-brainer for the Phillies to take Pedro back on a cheap, pro-rated deal if it looks like he has anything left. Then again, I thought keeping Cliff Lee this year was a no-brainer too.
Imagine if Pedro was still in his prime.That would be a sick rotation.
I wonder if a potential mid-season signing of Martinez would put KK on the trade block. I’m convinced KK could bring in a nice back-end-of-the-bullpen arm, maybe a guy like Hoffman or if we sweetened the deal with Mathieson and a few chips, Soria. That might be selling him short, but the longer he keeps up his mediocre (to be nice) performances, the less you’re going to get in return.