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Report: Pedro Martinez agrees to four-year deal with Mets
December 14, 2004
BOSTON (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox bid adieu to Pedro Martinez. The three-time Cy Young Award winner appears to be headed to the Big Apple.
However, it is the New York Mets and not the New York Yankees who have reportedly made the big splash, agreeing to terms with Martinez on a four-year contract worth $54 million.
According to reports, the Mets swayed Martinez by guaranteeing him a fourth year on his contract, something the Red Sox would not do.
Red Sox president Larry Lucchino issued the following statement:
"He (Martinez) was a great member of the Red Sox team for seven years, and a certain Hall of Famer. He will be missed, and we are disappointed to have lost him to the Mets and the National League."
Martinez, 33, compiled an astounding 117-37 record in seven seasons with the Red Sox. He won Cy Young Awards in 1999 and 2000, when he went a combined 41-10 with a 1.90 ERA.
Losing Martinez is a major blow for the Red Sox, who reportedly lost out in the Carl Pavano sweepstakes to the rival New York Yankees. Boston did sign 41-year-old lefthander David Wells but is not expected to re-sign Derek Lowe, who won all three clinching games in the postseason.
The Red Sox reportedly have been pursuing Oakland's Tim Hudson and Florida's A.J. Burnett for their rotation.
Signing Martinez would be a major move for the Mets, who have been criticized in recent years for not aggressively pursuing stars such as Vladimir Guerrero and Alex Rodriguez.
In New York, Martinez would be the ace of a rotation that also includes Kris Benson, Tom Glavine, Steve Trachsel and Victor Zambrano.
Martinez began his career in the National League with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 before moving to Montreal for four seasons. He won his first Cy Young with the Expos in 1997.
A six-time All-Star, Martinez owns a career record of 182-76 with a 2.71 ERA and 2,653 strikeouts in 388 games.
Martinez won two of his Cy Youngs with Boston and was an integral part of the Red Sox's first championship team in 86 years.
Not the dominant pitcher he once was, Martinez went 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA - the highest ERA of his career - this past season in helping the Red Sox to their first World Series title since 1918.
After anchoring the Red Sox's staff since his arrival in 1998, Martinez gave up the title of "staff ace" last season to Curt Schilling.
Martinez's best postseason performance came in Game Three of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals when he pitched seven scoreless innings, putting the Red Sox on the brink of their championship.
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