Pedro Martinez Won’t Chase Mets
Christian Red of the New York Daily News talked to free agent starter Pedro Martinez, who spoke about the Mets:
"You know what? My phone is off. And I won’t (call Minaya) unless he calls my agent (Fernando Cuza) or he calls me. I have a lot of respect for Omar and the Mets, but I’m not going to go chasing the Mets. I’m not in that bad of shape. I’m okay and they know I am okay. Yeah, I would like to be back (with the Mets). But I’m not just gonna follow the Mets. They have their own plans and they have their own thought process. Yes, I would love to go (to Citi Field) and hopefully have the same success I had at Shea. Shea was a great stadium for me. I hope the new Shea pretty much follows up on the old one. But I have my goals and I have my things that I want to achieve in life. If it’s not with the Mets, it will be with someone else. But if they want a fifth starter who’s been there – I don’t know how much they want me – I’m available."
There’s been a decent amount of hand-wringing in New York over the fifth starter job, as no one is running away with the gig. The candidates: Freddy Garcia, Tim Redding, Livan Hernandez, and Jon Niese. ESPN’s Rob Neyer says the Mets don’t need Pedro and should just choose between Niese and Redding. Joel Sherman of the New York Post would also pass.
Heyman On Pudge, Pedro, Catalanotto
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up; let’s take a look.
- Heyman says Oakland’s "win now" mandate this winter came from owner Lewis Wolff.
- The Astros and Marlins are interested in Ivan Rodriguez, "no matter what they say publicly."
- Heyman says Pedro Martinez is "talking up a Dodgers reunion." So far, there’s been no indication the Dodgers are entertaining it.
- Edgar Renteria‘s agent was initially asking for a three or four-year deal.
- It’s no surprise that Frank Catalanotto is available, but the $6MM owed to him is an obvious impediment.
- According to Heyman, Andruw Jones told Rangers brass he’s flexible on the March 20th decision date in his contract.
- Heyman describes the Josh Hamilton extension talks as "just getting going" and believe the John Lackey discussions have only been preliminary.
Odds & Ends: Strasburg, Lester, Pudge
Links for Monday…
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said the Yankees have yet to contact him regarding their possible third base need.
- ESPN’s Rob Neyer says the Mets don’t need Pedro Martinez.
- The scouts Buster Olney talked to absolutely adore Stephen Strasburg. One of them said, "Right now, he’s better than A.J. Burnett." There’s no way the Nationals can pass on a talent like this.
- WEEI’s Alex Speier compares Jon Lester‘s record-breaking contract to others given to young pitchers.
- Jim Baumbach of Newsday talked to Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, who promoted Ivan Rodriguez and noted that assistant GM Tony Bernazard observed the catcher’s four-hit, two home run performance in Puerto Rico Saturday.
- ESPN’s Peter Gammons notes the affordability of Boston’s pitching staff.
Pedro Martinez Unlikely For Orioles
Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who admitted the team had internal discussions about free agent starter Pedro Martinez. However, Schmuck learned that the O’s are unlikely to sign Martinez and have not been in contact with his agent. Martinez didn’t drum up much interest this winter, and he’s hoping a fine WBC showing will improve his stock. Today in the Dominican Republic’s 3-2 upset loss to the Netherlands, Pedro tossed three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Pedro A Closer Candidate For Cards?
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes about the possibility of the Cardinals pursuing Pedro Martinez as a possible closer candidate:
[GM John] Mozeliak is scheduled to meet today with [manager Tony] La Russa and his coaches to discuss the camp’s progress. The discussion might include discussion of Martinez as an option at closer. La Russa suggested in November that the club should expand its consideration to include veteran starting pitchers. Martinez has a recent history of shoulder problems but said Tuesday he would be open to the possibility of closing.
The World Baseball Classic might be a decent test of whether Pedro can perform in a relief role. In yesterday’s exhibition game, Martinez was clocked as high as 91 mph according to Arthur Staple of Newsday. It appears that he has yet to be offered a Major League deal.
Pedro Martinez Rumors: Wednesday
Yesterday Pedro Martinez suggested he’d be happy to retire to his fishing boat if nobody offers him a contract he likes. Today, Joshua Robinson of the New York Times reports that Pedro doesn’t seem ready to leave baseball behind.
Robinson writes that Pedro "began to sound a little like an infomercial" after pitching against the Orioles for the Dominican Republic today. Apparently, Pedro described his health as "good" or "great" seven times in the first minute of the post-game interview. He allowed four baserunners in two innings, striking out two.
Pedro Martinez Discusses Future
TUESDAY: Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News has more info after talking with Pedro. According to Rubin, Martinez "prefers retiring to his fishing boat if the alternative is accepting a Tom Glavine-like contract."
MONDAY: New York Mets beat writer David Lennon of Newsday sat down with free agent right-hander Pedro Martinez to discuss the starting pitcher’s plans.
In addition to saying he’d like to pitch this season in the Major Leagues, Martinez said he’d like to stay in the National League, given he already has a World Series ring with an AL squad.
He also said he doesn’t think the door is closed on a reunion with the Mets.
"I don’t know really," Martinez said. "The season hasn’t started. I’m not really worried about what they do. I’m just getting ready. For sure I’ll be ready. If I’m healthy, anybody would have a bargain – if I’m healthy. If I’m not, well, I’ll go home fishing. My boat is waiting for me."
Martinez, 37, went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts for the Mets in 2008.
Red Sox Not Interested In Pedro
According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox are not interested in bringing Pedro Martinez back to Boston. McAdam’s sources say Pedro’s representatives approached the Red Sox this week to determine interest and heard from the Red Sox that they don’t have room for Pedro.
Pedro, who won two Cy Youngs and a World Series in Boston, will pitch in the WBC for the Dominican Republic and hopes to attract interest with a good showing.
Unsigned Pedro Still Working Hard
MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez writes that free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez looked great Tuesday during a simulated game in the Dominican Republic.
He’s currently gearing up to represent his country during the World Baseball Classic. "Pedro was working really well, he threw the ball like normal and he showed good physical condition," said Dominican team staff member Rafael Mateo.
Pedro is hoping that a strong showing during the WBC will lead to a major league contract. According to a Dominican-based newspaper, the Dodgers, Pirates and Indians have expressed interest in the 37-year-old right-hander, but no offers have been extended.
Heyman’s Latest: Cabrera, Pudge, Pedro, Halladay
Already linked to this article from Jon Heyman in the Manny piece, but it should have its own post as well, as the second half of it covers completely different material. Let’s take a look…
- Orlando Cabrera and the A’s still face a gap in the numbers. The A’s would like to sign him for $2MM-$3MM, but Cabrera is holding out for more. The hit his reputation took based on problems with his former White Sox teammates is unlikely to be helping matters.
- Heyman points out that the Dodgers did an excellent job of using Cabrera’s availability to drive down Orlando Hudson’s price tag.
- Heyman says Pudge Rodriguez’s reputation also took a hit toward the end of his tenure in Detroit. Could that be playing a factor in the lack of interest toward Pudge? Heyman names the Marlins and Astros as good fits. Pudge will use the WBC as an audition to try to prove he’s better than he was with the Yankees (.580 OPS through 33 games).
- Pedro Martinez will also use the WBC as an audition, but other than the Pirates, there’s not much of a market for him. That could change with a solid showing in March, however. The Indians made a run at Pedro early on, and the Dodgers could become a possibility.
- Heyman speculates that with Vernon Wells’ health issues and declining production, the stars may aligning for a Roy Halladay trade mid-season. Wells will miss the next month with a hamstring injury.
What’s everyone else think? Is Cabrera being stubborn or are the A’s? Where will Pudge and Pedro end up? Are Halladay’s Toronto days numbered?