Pedro Martinez has yet to throw off a mound this year, so the chances that he signs with the Phillies for a second consecutive year appear to be dwindling. MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke to Pedro’s agent, Fernando Cuza, and determined that things have changed since last year.
“They're different circumstances,” Amaro said, pointing out that Pedro pitched in last year’s World Baseball Classic. “He hasn't gotten on a mound [in 2010]. Only Pedro could say when he'd be ready. I'm sure he knows, but I couldn't tell you."
Amaro didn’t rule out a reunion, but Zolecki suggests the Phillies will not bring Pedro back. J.A. Happ is pitching at Triple A and could return soon, but the Phillies are considering help outside the organization.
Pedro posted 7.5 K/9 with 1.6 BB/9 last year, along with a 3.63 ERA. He didn’t throw much (just 44.2 innings), but he provided the Phils with a late-season boost. This year, Amaro could turn to Dan Haren (a player the Phillies have interest in) or other potentially available arms like Fausto Carmona and former Phillie Brett Myers.
I wish Pedro would come to Boston and pitch out of the pen, and having him spot start cant hurt either. Id love to see him hang it up with a ‘B’ on his hat.
The chances of bringing back Pedro are obviously not good. That being said if the phillies went after Dan Haren that would be awesome, chances are also not good with that one. The one pitcher that I would love the phillies to get is Fausto Carmona i love him and it’s a shame he is on such a bad team because he would be great. He fixed some mechanic woes and has really turned it around. I can’t see him going back to his 2007 season but I could see him winning 11 games or more. The best part of him is that i couldn’t see the Phillies giving too much up for him. Who knows he might even be a steal. At this point the Phillies have to make a move pitching wise and this could be one of them.
I doubt Carmona would come cheaply, he’s got club options running from 2012-2014.
I’d like to see the White Sox grab him as an insurance starter in case Dan Hudson or Sweaty Freddie falter. I also would like the Sox to grab Carlos Delgado off his couch to fill in our LH DH need.
I love Pedro, but the dude needs to retire. He was a beast back in his younger days.
It would be nice if he re-joined the mets…no prospects would have to be given up..and they can move takahashi back to the pen…all for a price lower than lee/oswalt/haren/lilly
Who would need to have more guts: Pedro to come pitch in Coors Field or Dan O’Dowd to sign him?
The Phils obviously need starting pitching help though. I really think that RAJ just dropped the ball on this team. I understand restocking the farm system, but they got absolutely nothing for Cliff Lee. The Mariners got a package built around Smoak, and he is better the the entire haul that the Phils got for Lee combined. The Ibanez contract? I think that one speaks for it self. Pulling the trigger on Polanco instead of Beltre? Personally, Beltre’s right handed bat would have better helped the Phils over-lefty lineup. Finally, any talk of this budget crunch in Philly… They are a big market city, consistently selling out home games. No money for Cliff Lee, but enough to give Blanton 8 mil or whatever his salary is?
Without the dumb moves, you could have had a team that looks like this
Ruiz
Howard
Utley
Rollins
Polanco/Beltre
Werth
Victorino
Ibanez (holding the spot until Dom Brown is ready to come up)
Rotation:
Doc
Cliff
Cole Hamels
(doesn’t really matter after that)
I know its ideal an I sound like I’m ranting, but with the potential to put a team like that on the field, how could you turn that down?
Did you forget that you got Roy Halladay as part of the Lee deal?
Well, you have to remember something. That deal was essentially two seperate parts. The Halladay deal could have very well been done without the Lee deal being in place. The Phillies-Blue Jays-Athletics piece, and the Phillies-Mariners piece. The reason they were pinned together is that the Philles are the ones who said they wouldn’t trade for Doc without being able to trade Cliff. And thats exactly what I’m saying was a lame move by RAJ. He should have completed the Doc deal, but he shouldn’t have been so hell bent on trading Lee
They all laughed when I said letting Myers walk was a dumb move. Personally though, Dan Haren is the prize now and I think it would be great if he was acquired by the Phillies. The other names Ben Sheets, Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, Ted Lilly, I mean they workd for various reasons but Haren would be great for this club.