Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Pedro Martinez

Odds And Ends: Draft, Francoeur, Crede

By | at

More links for your Friday afternoon…

Pedro Martinez Worked Out For Rays, Cubs

By | at

8:03pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that "a source close to Pedro Martinez indicated" that the Cubs have watched him throw as well. According to Cafardo, the source indicated that "both teams have begun to at least explore how much money it would take" to add Martinez to their rosters.

Carfardo adds that Martinez was throwing his fastball at around 94 mph.

7:32pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times confirms that a Rays staffer watched Pedro throw 20 fastballs, but writes, "Word is that it is 'very unlikely' anything will come of it." Topkin adds that Pedro's workout "may have been as much about getting his name out there as anything."

5:23pm: Multiple news outlets are reporting that the Rays watched Pedro Martinez work out. MLBTR does not normally link to material on Listin Diario (Spanish) or Herald de Paris, but both suggest the Rays watched the free agent righty work out.

Michael Weber, a producer for WTSP 10 in St. Petersburg reports through Twitter that the Rays confirmed they had someone "watch Pedro" (Hat Tip: Rays Index).

Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune writes: "I've heard that one of the Rays' officials in the Dominican who has known Pedro for a while just watched him work out, but it doesn't sound like the team expects anything to come of it."

Check out Rays Index for the full chronology and analysis.  My question: could Martinez perhaps contribute out of the bullpen?

Odds & Ends: Penny, Yankees

By | at

Some bullet points from around the internet:

  • Despite immensely enjoying his experience with the Red Sox, Brad Penny is not letting the trade rumors distract him, says Rob Bradford of WEEI.
  • Chris Gimenez was promoted to replace Grady Sizemore who hit the 15-day disabled list today. Gimenez can play corner outfield and serve as a backup catcher, says Anthony Castrovince.
  • River Ave. Blues takes a look at the Yankees 25-man roster and suggests better options for the bench.
  • The Mets and Phillies are both seeking a starting pitcher. The Phillies want a front-of-the-rotation guy while the Mets want a bottom-of-the-rotation guy. New York Post columnist Larry Brooks wonders in jest which role Pedro Martinez could fill.

Heyman On Peavy, Pedro, Blalock

By | at

Jon Heyman of SI.com has a number of rumors in his latest column:

  • He believes the Cubs and Brewers have the best shot at acquiring Jake Peavy, because of the pitcher's preference for the National League and his desire to play in "middle America." Heyman believes Peavy would accept a deal to either team, but there are never guarantees with a no-trade clause.
  • The Yankees and Indians both say they cannot add payroll.  
  • One AL executive believes Pedro Martinez would sign for $3MM plus incentives at this point.  
  • The Rangers would listen to offers for Hank Blalock and ask for relief help in return. 

Why Are So Many Pitchers Still Unsigned?

By | at

We are nearing Memorial Day, and many pitchers whose resumes would normally have landed them at least a minor-league deal by now remain unsigned.

  • Pedro Martinez is still homeless. While the complication may be in part due to Pedro's salary demands, it is surprising that nobody has signed him. Yes, his ERA was an unsightly 5.61 in 2008, but his 2007 stint was far better-2.57 ERA in 28 innings. His 87 strikeouts against 44 walks in 109 innings also suggests a pitcher who can help a team on the back end of a rotation. Given that it is Pedro Martinez, there is upside well beyond that, of course.
  • Odalis Perez remains strangely unsigned after his even stranger signing that wasn't with Washington this spring. Perez turns 32 on June 7, and had a perfectly average 2008, with a 4.34 ERA in 159 2/3 innings. Obviously, those numbers could help any number of teams.
  • Paul Byrd did what he always does in 2008-posted an ERA in the mid 4s (4.60 to be exact), struck out around four per nine innings, and kept his team in the game. Yet Byrd has yet to sign with anyone, either.

The lack of movement on these pitchers can't be due to overwhelming performances by all the starters currently employed. After all, there's Jamie Moyer and his 8.15 ERA, Carlos Silva and his 8.48 ERA, Oliver Perez and his 9.97 ERA… plenty of others at sixes and sevens, from Scott Olsen to Scott Kazmir. (Even as I type this, Moyer is giving up another home run. No, really.)

My suspicion is that teams view Martinez, Perez or Byrd as band-aid solutions. And that would be fine, normally. After all, band-aids have a rich tradition of stopping people from bleeding.

But the trade market for pitchers has the most top targets it's had in years. The Padres are already 10 games out, and Jake Peavy will likely hit the market. If Cincinnati fades, Aaron Harang could be available. If Toronto falls back to earth- and the smart money still has them finishing fourth- Roy Halladay could be someone else's ace by August. And Cleveland's Cliff Lee will be a prominent target as well.

There are even second-tier options that can help teams now and in the future, from Baltimore's Jeremy Guthrie to Seattle's Erik Bedard.  And in the current economic climate, teams that fall out of the race may have even greater incentive to shed salary as soon as possible.

So it may well be that for veteran free agents, the market will only pick up once the trade deadline has come and gone. And with so many targets out there, once the deadline deals are made July 31, there may not be any place for Martinez, Perez or Byrd to land.

Odds & Ends: Byrd, Fox, Kobayashi

By | at

Links for Monday…

White Sox To Pass On Bonds, Pedro

By | at

6:22pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com chimes in via Twitter, saying he hears "no dice on Pedro and Chisox." Heyman does suggest some team should be interested in Pedro. 

9:04am: Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times was wondering yesterday whether a couple of free agents might be able to help the White Sox.

DH Jim Thome has been bothered here and there by a heel injury, though he played in the last two games.  Cowley asked GM Ken Williams if Barry Bonds would be Plan B if the heel injury worsened, and Williams emailed back, "No."

Cowley quizzed manager Ozzie Guillen about Pedro Martinez, who would conceivably become the team's fifth starter if Jose Contreras is booted.  Ozzie's answer left the door just barely ajar:

"Pedro Martinez was mentioned in spring training, but just because a couple of his friends called me, and my job is to give Kenny the information.  But that's it, no, Pedro, no, not right now. I don't know if we're going to because that's Kenny's decision, but right now that's not on my mind.''

According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, top pitching prospect Aaron Poreda is not an immediate candidate if Contreras falters Thursday.

Heyman On Strasburg, Pedro, Byrd

By | at

Let's take a look at the latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman.

  • Heyman's on Twitter!
  • Heyman runs through the surprise contenders and decides which teams are the real deal.
  • The Nationals, as you know, have decided to draft Stephen Strasburg.
  • Heyman learned from Yankees GM Brian Cashman that "the Yankees can't seriously consider Pedro Martinez or Paul Byrd until they're pitching somewhere."  Heyman talked to another GM who estimated each player would need a month to get ready.  Byrd told Yahoo's Tim Brown he needs just two weeks in the minors.

Odds And Ends: Yankees, Pedro, Mets

By | at

Links for Saturday morning…

Heyman On Nationals, Lee, A-Rod

By | at

SI.com's Jon Heyman has a new column up; here are some highlights:

  • Heyman spoke with a Nats person who described college pitcher Stephen Strasburg's curve as a "legit hammer." The Nats will have the chance to draft him with their first overall pick this June.
  • The Nats could have a solid young rotation soon if they add Strasburg to go along with Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann, both 22. John Lannan and Scott Olsen are only 24 and 25, respectively.  
  • There has been contact between the Nats and Pedro Martinez, though Heyman writes that Pedro makes more sense for a team trying to win now.  
  • Speculation that Cliff Lee could be dealt is "not crazy at all," especially considering that last year's C.C. Sabathia deal worked well for both the Indians and Brewers.  
  • Heyman also weighs in on the latest Alex Rodriguez controversy. 
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top