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Thursday, July 9, 2009
Martinez's agent denies report, but says interest is there

Does Pedro Martinez fit what the Phillies need?
Yes
No
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Both the Phillies and the agent for future Hall of Fame righthander Pedro Martinez shot down reports that the two sides have reached an agreement. But talks between the two sides are very much alive, and a decision could come at some point in the near future.

"There is interest on both sides, I can tell you that," Martinez's agent, Fernando Cuza, told the Daily News Thursday afternoon.

The Phillies watched Martinez pitch a simulated game Tuesday and have been in constant contact with Martinez's camp. Cuza said that his client has other options besides the Phillies, but declined to specify how many.

Cuza said Martinez's goal is to be pitching for a Major League team once the All-Star Break ends next Thursday.

"The Phillies saw me this past Tuesday in a simulated game and I felt very good with my fastball and all my pitches," Martinez told the Associated Press.

The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner told the AP that it was up to his agent and the Phillies to wrap up the details.

Cuza says Martinez currently has "all of his options in front of him," and is currently in the decision-making process.

"I would say Pedro is getting close," Cuza said.

Candela Deportivo, a sports periodical from the Dominican Republic, reported yesterday that the Phillies and Martinez have agreed to a contract that would pay him $4 million for the rest of the season. But Cuza laughed that off, and Phillies general manager called the report "false."

Posted by David Murphy @ 6:06 PM  Permalink | 51 comments
51
Comments   
Posted 06:22 PM, 07/09/2009
Raiderfan
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Posted 06:31 PM, 07/09/2009
phillyart
Please no... Our bullpen will be dead by September.
Posted 06:37 PM, 07/09/2009
jacksondog
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO, and just to get the point across NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 06:42 PM, 07/09/2009
Brauny
Good move to get this out in the press... helps put some pressure and urgency on the Jays
Posted 06:43 PM, 07/09/2009
jamarder
No for an Oakland fan? Sure no for you
Posted 06:45 PM, 07/09/2009
Will.i.Am
Id be happy to have Martinez, He would be our 3-4 spot in the rot. Would loooooove to get Halladay. Hallday,Hamels,Blanton,Martinez,Lopez.
Posted 06:57 PM, 07/09/2009
flabird1954
I met Pedro down here in Fort Myers at City of Palms Park where the Red Sox Spring train when I worked for the News-Press. I think he can help us the rest of the season. He is a pretty decent guy and I think he would fit in......would't hurt !!!!!!!!
Posted 07:01 PM, 07/09/2009
EL Zorro
If Martinez if healthy, this is a good move. The guy can really pitch and has a ton of playoff experience. He also should be rested. I'll take 5-6 innings from him for the rest of the season anytime. The way our pitchers are throwing lately, going deep into the games, our pen should be all right. The guy is a gamer; he'll bring some needed fire in the clubhouse.
Posted 07:07 PM, 07/09/2009
Nutburgers
I don't imagine the Phils are happy about having to shoot this news down today, of all days. Probably wanted to have Shane's All-Star election get its due attention, as well they (and he) should. As for whether Pedro's ready to go ... Rodrigo Lopez could barely throw batting practice for the last two years, and he has an ERA under 4 for us so far. I'd spend $3 million (not $4M) to find out whether Pedro has resuscitated himself. And if he hasn't, well, it's not like he's a local favorite, so they can just cut him and try something else.
Posted 07:14 PM, 07/09/2009
PuPuMan
They are preparing to be able to trade Happ
Posted 07:25 PM, 07/09/2009
MB2009
Can't believe this could happen.. This guy will make you wish you still had Adam Eaton. Please pass on this one. This guy was done three years ago......
Posted 07:32 PM, 07/09/2009
mick314
Nice fit for Lakewood
Posted 07:34 PM, 07/09/2009
worldstuffer_1
This guy i think is a great guy. Local Classifieds Seattle Free Local Classifieds
Posted 07:39 PM, 07/09/2009
Frank Lloyd Wrong
Calm down folks. This is a smokescreen. You can't negotiate with a team that thinks you have no other option.
Posted 07:40 PM, 07/09/2009
Downie27
If he goes to the 'pen, i'll be all for it.
Posted 07:59 PM, 07/09/2009
P Even
$4MM for less than half a season is too much. Lopez leaving early last night makes getting another starter more urgent.
Posted 07:59 PM, 07/09/2009
nickpip25
I hope you're right Frank Lloyd Wrong.
Posted 08:20 PM, 07/09/2009
KMG
Who would you rather has as your #5 starter, Drew Carpenter or Pedro Martinez? Bring Pedro in and get Halladay, too. Moyer is done.
Posted 08:34 PM, 07/09/2009
mrdip
Forget about the pen, it's either starting or nothing. Signing probably depends on Halladay. No way, both will be on the team
Posted 08:44 PM, 07/09/2009
phink
Rube is really going out on a limb here, and if this move fails his credibility as a GM will be seriously questioned.
Posted 09:02 PM, 07/09/2009
DennisAtwell
This is just one shoe dropping...
Posted 09:16 PM, 07/09/2009
bdawkisgod
does anyone know how he threw in that simulated game the other day?
Posted 09:21 PM, 07/09/2009
kookybeez
NO-He has Mets blood. He's a loser!!
Comment removed.
Posted 09:37 PM, 07/09/2009
BurtonT
Pedro is going to replace Happ - because J.A. will be a key piece in the trade with Toronto for Halladay
Posted 10:05 PM, 07/09/2009
eyeseenenuffalready
can carlton still hurl?
Posted 10:10 PM, 07/09/2009
tmoon51
He knows how to pitch and will be no worse than running Jamie Moyer out there every 5 days. If he can help, why not? Be realistic Philly fans, how often does any Philly team go out and trade for one of the best players available! Roy will probably wind up in New York, Boston or someteam in California. It just rarely happens that the Phillies just go out and get a top of the rotation talent like that and my hopes will not rise unless its finalized.
Posted 10:36 PM, 07/09/2009
cheesesteak17
perhaps the Jays are asking for Happ in the Halliday deal??? i'm told they need 1 ML ready pitcher to make it work. they have 2 other starters on the DL currently i think. could be picking up Pedro first (be our #4-5 starter) before we make the real deal.
Posted 10:40 PM, 07/09/2009
stigs
it's a nice move if they trade Happ to get Halladay
Posted 10:57 PM, 07/09/2009
Wally 24
Let me add my two cents to the discussion and say 5 years ago this would have been a good idea but he will do no good for this team now. Lopez should be given at least 2 more starts before any decision is made. The starting rotation is pitching well, plus the offense and defense are firing on all cylinders. Pitching is 1/3rd of the formula for winning not the whole ball of wax. Last year at this point Feliz, Utley, & Gordon were hurt, Eaton was sent down, Myers was sent down, Jenkins and Burrell had begun their second half slumps. The cry in the press and on the blogs was for another ACE pitcher. Instead we got Joe Blanton. We all know he wasn't any good right? Wrong! What happened after that? WE WON THE WORLD SERIES THATS ALL. Change for the sake of change serves no purpose.
Posted 10:58 PM, 07/09/2009
HandNik
I have no problem with Pedro as a 4-5 guy. You trot out Hamels, Blanton, Happ, Moyer, and Martinez. Also, you keep your farmhands down there to build a team later. As much as I like Hallady, it isn't worth it to trade away the future. I remember what it was like when the Phils sucked for 13 years.
Posted 10:59 PM, 07/09/2009
HandNik
Also, has everyone forgotten that Dykstra was a Met? I've heard so many complaints about how Pedro was a Met and everyone loved Nails when he was here.
Posted 11:16 PM, 07/09/2009
guyguy4
Smokescreen? LOL. They are clearly interested in signing him based on all of the "no comments" issued by Rube. I highly doubt that Candela Deportivo is acting as the Phillies conduit for pushing out red herrings. And I guess that Frank Lloyd Wrong can detect this "smokescreen" but the Phillies know that JP Riccardi will for it so that's why they have employed Candela Deportivo in our their scheme. The brilliance on these boards crack me up. LOL
Posted 11:45 PM, 07/09/2009
chollie
not sure why the first three posters are so against this. what have you got to lose? nuttin!
Posted 12:47 AM, 07/10/2009
jtj06
If the Phils can work out a deal, why not? Who would you rather have start a game 7 in October/November- Pedro or Moyer?
Posted 01:47 AM, 07/10/2009
Flyers0929
getting pedro could be good like one person said it could rush the jays into doing something they regret or bad trade but thats less likely it could also, if he does good make him trade bait for another pitcher ex.Oswalt but not just him either a minor leaguer like donald or two players like marson or he could end up being So Taguchi but in the pen instead and make him less useful then So and win and undeserved World Series or he does ok and the phills keep him, im all for trading him for Oswalt if he does good
Posted 02:36 AM, 07/10/2009
philsfan in the atx
Just read a report saying he hit 93 in a game recently..if thats true that means hes healthy and may be a decent option for #5. It is also interesting because if Happ is the bargainging chip for Haliday then we are ok. I hope Haliday is had without Happ but it is interesting if thats part of the Pedro deal here.
Posted 03:47 AM, 07/10/2009
brookwest411
guyguy4: Is it really that dumb to suggest it's a smokescreen? Telling people you have interest in Pedro Martinez isn't really giving away your hand. Telling people you have interest in Halladay just makes it worse to try to trade for him. We don't know for sure one way or another if they're looking to deal for Halladay. How can you say otherwise? As for Martinez, I don't want him based on what I've seen while he was with the Mets, but it does make sense in the essence that they could be trying to ship out Haap and need another started to fill the gap. My big concerns in all of this is if Halladay could be ready to pitch in a city like this, with this ballpark, and in the playoffs.
Posted 05:21 AM, 07/10/2009
2stepbay
Pedro replacing Moyer sounds like a good swap - worse case, he gets hammered like Moyer; best case he pitches decent ball.
Posted 08:05 AM, 07/10/2009
MooseBreathMints
Go after Martinez? If! If is is recovered from physical injuries. If he is actually throwing in the 90s. If he has movement on his ball. If he can hit the corners of the plate. If he can pitch past the 6th inning. If he is hungry to win. If he can run without hurting himself. IF in an addition to the Phillies trading for Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, or Dan Haren.
Posted 08:10 AM, 07/10/2009
fan_in_jerusalem
The opnly reason to sign fat Pedro is to ship him to TOronto in th Halladay deal.
Posted 08:32 AM, 07/10/2009
EL Zorro
Like I said yesterday in previous Murph post and some have also mentioned here, I believe if Pedro is signed Happ is on his way to Toronto in the Halladay deal. Ricciardi wants a ML ready pitcher in return and he had to be impressed with the way J.A. pitched against the Blue Jays in Spring Training. He also followed that outing with a nice first half. Carrasco also was impressive in that game in Febraury and is pitching pretty well lately, so maybe he could be one of the other pieces. If they take Happ and Carrasco, I don’t think Drabek will be part of the deal. Donald and Marson should seal the deal. This way we get to keep the untouchables: Drabek, Taylor, Brown and maybe Knapp.
Posted 09:00 AM, 07/10/2009
mjw1229
If the Phils sign Martinez, it more than likely signals that the Blue Jays want Happ as the major league piece in a Halladay trade. If this is the case, ask yourself this: would you rather have a rotation of Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Martinez, Moyer OR Hamels, Blanton, Happ, Moyer, Lopez/Bastardo/etc etc.??? I think the choice is obvious...
Posted 09:01 AM, 07/10/2009
brinkmang
Drabek, Drabek, Drabek. Chalie you ain't got 1 of these. This kid is ready. He's smokin em at Reading so what's the big diff between the strike zones? Better D, better umping, better offense = better pitcher. You can't teach a fall off the table breaking ball and a smokin fastball. Bring him up, please!
Posted 09:02 AM, 07/10/2009
abnrgr
Pedro is weighing his options!? The Phils do not need another 4-5 inning starter. Here's the deal. Everytime he pitches 7innings he gets100k. 50k for each extra inning.
Posted 09:15 AM, 07/10/2009
fran g
No Thanks.
Posted 10:04 AM, 07/10/2009
FetchDixon
Will.i.Am.......Your an idiot. 1. Pedro is a washed up team cancer. 2. The Phillies are not going to get Halliday.. If you've payed attention, the franchise just doesn't make moves like that. 3. How do you have Lopez in the rotation ahead of Moyer & Happ. He made 1 good start!! Thats it.. Just 1. Do you really think Charlies going to say to Moyer, thanks for you effort.. but you have to go home now.. keep the $12 million we owe you?
Posted 11:12 AM, 07/10/2009
Maddy44
i like it;....its a prelim to bigger and better things to come....hey, happ;....abc ya later,...it was nice knowin' ya.....personally, i'd want to keep happ and give drabek;...drabek added to the deal would meean you may be able to save taylor and happ just doesn't carry that much weight right now, so if this organization is so intent on keeping drabek out of the halladay deal, then so be it, but i'd rather save happ and give up drabek....i know what i have with happ
Posted 11:43 AM, 07/10/2009
BJV
I'm more concerned with what we would have to give up to get Halladay, who would more likely be here for just a year and a half. Happ gives no indication that he can't do the job, so I'm reluctant to see him leave as part of any package.
Posted 12:56 PM, 07/10/2009
J.H.S.
This is no smoke screen, the Jays want a pitcher they can plug into their rotation (Happ) when they deal Halladay. We will have Halladay and Pedro. If somehow we only end up with Pedro only Ruben should stay in that dumpster he dove into for Pedro.
Posted 01:02 PM, 07/10/2009
J.H.S.
Did someone really say the only reason to sign Pedro is to send him to Toronto in the Halladay deal?? That almost as dumb as the poster who keeps saying we should trade Howard and Halladay straight up. Some of you should not be allowed to post your comments, although it does provide some form of comedy during my day.
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times.

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