bonobozoot Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 Imagine our surprises if he played for the Yankees next season. :shifty: Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1793396 Pitcher says he'll test free agency -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services BOSTON -- Pedro Martinez has halted contract negotiations with the Boston Red Sox and will test the free agent market after this season, he told reporters on Friday. Martinez has asked his agent to notify general manager Theo Epstein and team president Larry Lucchino that he would no longer talk contract with the club during the season. Martinez's agent, Fernando Cuza, did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking comment early Saturday. "I'm just really sad for the fans in New England who had high hopes that at this time I could say, truly, that I was going to stay in Boston, but now they're going to have to compete with the rest of the league," Martinez told the Boston Herald on Friday before the team's game against the Texas Rangers. Martinez was not available after Friday night's game was postponed by rain. He is 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA in his seventh season with the Red Sox, and is scheduled to pitch Saturday. "It is club policy not to comment on contract negotiations during the season," Epstein, who was not in Arlington, said through a Red Sox spokesman on Friday night. "It's just business," said the right-hander, who is 170-69 in his career with a 2.62 ERA. Martinez is making $17.5 million this season. He told the Herald that he held no ill will toward the Red Sox. However, his comments to the Boston Globe indicate otherwise. "I just don't like people lying, trying to fake that they're signing us when they never made an effort strong enough to make us actually think about anything," Martinez told the Globe. "They never made us an offer. I waited an extra month to actually let [principal owner] John Henry do whatever he promised me he was going to do, and nothing came out of it." Martinez also told the Globe that the Red Sox privately hinted his shoulder might be at risk "just to bring my contract down." "That's the whole issue," Martinez told the Globe. "That bothered me a little bit because that was dirty playing after I promised I was going to keep my mouth shut about the negotiations. That bothered me that they did that just to bring my salary down or make things more difficult for me to go in a free agency year." Asked why the team would use such a ploy, if they did, Martinez told the Globe, "Maybe they needed me to sign for a cheaper salary than they thought I should earn. It's not bad to negotiate. I understand that. At the same time, don't try to give me a friendly face and say, 'We're trying hard. Keep [public discussion] low,' just like they did to [Derek Lowe], try to keep him shut down so he wouldn't say anything." Martinez said he also was annoyed by the team's proposal to include a clause in any future contract that would void the deal if his career was cut short by injury. "That was the only thing they talked about in spring training," he told the Globe. "I said, 'Don't even bring it up anymore.' The same thing to [catcher Jason] Varitek. Would you talk to Varitek about a voidable contract? That's not fair to a guy like that." Martinez would not say what the chances are that he would re-sign with Boston. He told the Globe that he would consider any team, and when asked about the Yankees, he said "Boston has probably the same chances the Yankees will have." The Red Sox and Martinez negotiated during spring training, but nothing was accomplished. "I don't know, I'm going to have to wait and see," he told the Herald. "I gave them every single chance I could. ... I gave them every opportunity, every discount I could give them to actually stay in Boston and they never took advantage of it. Didn't even give me an offer." Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prodigal Father Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 well, business is business right, i bet he'd reconsider if the Bo-Sox won the pennant though Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2047145 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted May 2, 2004 Veteran Share Posted May 2, 2004 I don't think I'd sign him. He's starting to wear his arm out and I don't think he has much left in the tank after this season. Nevermind that, though, even if he did have 2 great seasons left, the money invested in his aging arm would be better spent on some farm system boys who need to be worked on and who show real potential. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2047705 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remote Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 guess that means he will be wearing pinstripes next season Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2047918 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxikk Veteran Posted May 2, 2004 Veteran Share Posted May 2, 2004 guess that means he will be wearing pinstripes next season i hope he comes to bmore :laugh: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2049382 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted May 2, 2004 Veteran Share Posted May 2, 2004 guess that means he will be wearing pinstripes next season I don't think Big Stein would bring him here. They really hate each other. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2049781 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaticX Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 ahhhh how things change once you don the pinstripes, everyone will change there tune real quick Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2049927 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatnipOligarchy Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 thats a shame.. if he wasnt so damn greedy though.. i bet he ends up in NY Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2050042 Share on other sites More sharing options...
topher1078 Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 There's no way he should get the money he is asking for and I really hope no other team gives it to him. His arm is dying so so fast and he's got a few years at most left in his career. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2050049 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crackler Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 I don't think I'd sign him. He's starting to wear his arm out and I don't think he has much left in the tank after this season. Nevermind that, though, even if he did have 2 great seasons left, the money invested in his aging arm would be better spent on some farm system boys who need to be worked on and who show real potential. His performance last night against Texas showed that. :unsure: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2050066 Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 I hope he goes to the NL, so the other pitcher can bean him when he's batting. The jerk. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2050390 Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetonesun Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 I was wondering how long it would take before Pedro got Schilling envy. He's still a dominant pitcher, but the Sox have quite a few strong starters now, they could stand to lose him for another decent pitcher. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2050489 Share on other sites More sharing options...
stncttr908 Veteran Posted May 3, 2004 Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2004 If he does end up in a Yankees uniform I'll lose all hope that I have left in baseball. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2052342 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonovate Posted May 3, 2004 Share Posted May 3, 2004 didn't u guys read this: Monday, May 3, 2004 ESPN.com news services Manny Ramirez appears to have improved his image from brooding "clubhouse cancer" to ultimate team player in Boston, willing to give up a generous portion of his salary for the sake of the Red Sox's future. Ramirez told the Boston Herald that he would gladly defer part of his annual salary --$20 million a year on average -- so the Red Sox can afford to keep Pedro Martinez in Boston beyond this season. In the offseason, Ramirez was placed on waivers, left unclaimed, and then would have been traded to Texas had Boston's attempt to acquire Alex Rodriguez not fallen through. Now the Red Sox slugger is offering to take a pay cut so the team can spread the wealth to its ace. "How long is [Pedro]planning to stay, three years?" Ramirez told the Herald. "I'll loan them a contract. Whatever they want. How much do they need? It's for Pedro." Ramirez offered to loan about $5 million a year for the Red Sox to pay to Martinez, who called off contract negotiations last week and has said he will test free agency at the end of this season. When asked after Sunday's game if he were joking, Ramirez reiterated his offer. "I am serious," he told a reporter. "I want Pedro to stay. Pedro's the heart of the team. He's been here so long. I think it's going to be a sad moment to see him leave. That's why I said what I did. It's really no problem for me. Hey, how much money do I need?" Ramirez told the Herald that he was also willing to defer money to keep Nomar Garciaparra in a Red Sox uniform. Some members of the rival Yankees wouldn't be shocked to see Pedro sign elsewhere -- or even sign to play alongside them. "I'm just glad that I don't get paid to make those decisions," Bernie Williams was quoted as saying in the New York Post. "He's one of the great pitchers of his generation and it'll be interesting to see where he ends up next year. ... It's hard for me to talk about Pedro, but I think he would want an opportunity to play for a team that wins." Any loathing for Pedro the opponent would cease the minute he'd agree to be a Yankee. "He's not the enemy, he just wears the jersey," closer Mariano Rivera told the Post. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?i...artnersite=espn Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/162988-pedro-to-test-free-agency-next-season/#findComment-2055247 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts