THURSDAY, 9:05am: Amaro told Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com that he hasn't spoken to Pedro's representatives in three weeks to a month, though the club would have some interest if Pedro intends to pitch. A source tells Salisbury that Martinez wants significantly more money than the Phillies would be willing to offer.
WEDNESDAY, 11:48am: Pedro Martinez plans to pitch in the second half of the season, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is training in the Dominican Republic and Miami in preparation for a second consecutive second-half return.
Pedro, now 38, pitched to a 3.63 ERA in 44.2 innings last year with 7.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9. It wasn’t until August 12th that Pedro made his 2009 debut and the rest seemed to help. His average fastball was 89 mph, higher than any year since 2004.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was in touch with Pedro last month and confirmed that the dialogue continues.
"We are not negotiating, but we've been talking to him,” Amaro said. “It all depends on whether he wants to play or not."
The Rangers, Cardinals, Tigers, Reds and Mets are among the contenders that could look to add starters. However, a return to Queens seems unlikely, since the Mets appear to have little interest.
Cardinals?
Dear Ruben, We need way more than pedro to save this team. Go get a real pitcher. DFA Moyer
When Roy Halladay can ptich a 1 ER CG and still take the loss, I doubt pitching is your problem
This whole act year to year is getting old. MLB should have a rule where if a guy isn’t under contract by June 1st, they can’t play that season.
Worst idea I’ve heard today. Gj.
Your right. They should make every draft pick sit out the entire year since they wont sign until after June 1st
Obviously I’m talking about playing in the majors that same season.
It just gets old when you have these aging veterans with some modicum of talent yet, sitting out half the year (or more), stringing the same teams along.
If a player wants to make themselves available as a commodity, and a team wants to utilize their services as such, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. There is already a trading deadline and an August 31st roster-set cutoff to prevent total absurdity of not “dancing with the girl that took you to the dance” in place.
I think he goes to the Cards, he pitched well last season and they need pitching, plus the half-season commitment would probably still fit in their budget.
I wonder if he’d want to pitch in the bullpen. Boston’s pen is horrible.
The bullpen is rounding into form lately with Bard and Delcarmen setting up Papelbon. Okajima is no longer the force he used to be, but I don’t see Pedro being much of a help in the bullpen. I’d much rather see him be the fifth starter over Wakefield though.
I wonder what players think of a guy who sits for 2/3rds of the season and then expects a team to sign him.
…”Can he help us win? If so, sign him”?
…”I hope I’ll still be talented enough when I’m his age for teams to consider paying me”?
Players who care? They want to win, it doesn’t matter if you’re the biggest assh*le in the world, if having him on the team makes them better then why wouldn’t they be all for it.
I would love for the reds to take a shot a Pedro, Maybe teach somethings to Volquez and Cueto even though Jhonny has been great but i would rather see what chapman can do in the mlb first