Nothing imminent with Pedro
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Nothing imminent with Pedro
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
You've read this several times over the past couple months, but in light of an ESPN Deportes story that has gained some traction, it bears repeating. The Phillies and Pedro Martinez are not close to an agreement that would bring the veteran righthander back to the Phillies. The two sides have maintained open communication since the end of last season, and Martinez remains an option for the Phillies should they find themselves in need of starting pitching later in the season. But as of right now, the coaching staff and front office feel like their best course of action is to evaluate their current rotation before making any drastic decisions.
Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer both turned in less-than-stellar results in their first starts of the season, but the Phillies know that any fair judgment requires a body of work.
This is what will likely end up happening:
Kendrick will remain in the rotation until righthander Joe Blanton is ready to return from the disabled list. At the earliest, this won't happen for another week-and-a-half. In all likelihood, Kendrick will get three more starts, including tomorrow against the Nationals. At that point, the Phillies will go in one of three directions: Either they'll send him back to the minor leagues to start, keep him in the bullpen as a long reliever, or keep him in the rotation over Jamie Moyer.
At that point, the Phillies will likely wait until mid-to-late May to decide whether their current No. 5 starter (Moyer or Kendrick) is a better option than Matinez. Last year, they waited until mid-May to remove Chan Ho Park from the rotation. It stands to reason that they will afford Moyer or Kendrick a similar length of rope.
If the Phillies start to look at Martinez as a serious option, I'd expect them to try to bring him into the fold earlier than they did last season, since it was August by the time he was ready to join the rotation.
Granted, injuries could change this timetable.
For now, though, a return by Pedro is not imminent.
Possible, but not imminent.
Comments (60)
CLIFF LEE is not imminent...— stan the man too- yep, keep bringing up Cliff Lee. This is the best Phillies team we will ever see and you can't even enjoy it. GET OUT!— seaonasdad
- Hey Stan . . . give the Lee thing a rest . . . unless your talking about him pitching for the M's . . which is still a few weeks away . . .— ingy9
Comment removed.- Stan you dont know jack. Cliff Lee has a sports hernia and will probably be done for the season once they decide in May he cant pitch through it. Stop bringing him up. We have the best pitcher in baseball.— crkreg
- I had always thought of Pedro as a me-first arrogant kind of guy and didn't think I'd like him. He surprised me with his professionalism and honesty. I wouldn't mind having him back. He performed much better than I expected and even seemed to have a positive effect on his teammates. Maybe he'd come back as a long reliever and partner with Moyer... which happened a few times last season where they each pitched a few innings in the same game.— regulus6633
- Stan the Tool one should be your name— Phillyphan26
- When Blanton, Lidge, and Romero come back. Look for Kendrick, Bastardo and Figueroa to be gone.— Dull
- Zach Greinke, Zach DUke or Chris Young ...that is who we should look at during the Trade Deadline— PhillyGuy1979
- CliffLeeCliffLeeCliffLeeCliffLeeCliffLeeCliffLeeCliffLeeCliffLeeCliffLee— imageshaper
- Comment removed.
Who is this Lee Cliff guy? Is he any relations to Lee van Cleef?— Ohmy- Chris Young is on the DL. He would be a nice #2 though...— fins
bring him back, why not?— azguz- Comment removed.
- We don't have the prospects to get Cliff Lee back unless we are willing to deal Trevor May or Domonic Brown. That's what happens when you deal 7 of your top 10 prospects in less than a year's time.— Chewey
- Sure i would take him back , but lets check him out in a minor league stint first , You know to get him warmed up. Then if he looks like he can go , first opportunity bring him up .— Al_in_SD
- Lee van Cleef: Master Ninja.— th
- id take cliff lee over pedro easily— jb99
- stan, really dude? This will be a season to remember and still you are negative. Howard has never started off so strong, Polanco has been a great pick up. Once Victorino and Ibanez find their swings the NL might as well just stay home for the playoffs.— bobf876
- not sure what he did for the phils besides lose two world series games. Albeit the first loss he left in the 7th with a 2-1 score. Probably not the answer people are looking for.— mundiff
- Greinke signed a 4-year contract in January. No way no how he's available at the trade deadline.— GoPhilsGo
- The Phils are sitting pretty. If the rotation excels, then we're fine and can bring in Pedro cheap without losing anyone. If the rotation stinks, we can still bring in Pedro. If the rotation stinks and Pedro stinks, we can trade Werth at the deadline for a pitcher. End of story. Relax. Enjoy the greatest team in baseball for once.— MichaelZoe
- Other than game 6 in the WS when Pedro was not himself, he was terrific for us. He knows how to pitch and I'd love him back here as our 5th starter. He also keeps the team nice and loose. I will always remember him coming here and outdueling Lincecum and also shutting out the Mets in a crucial Sunday night game.— bradco
- i wonder why know other team has expressed interest in Pedro?— klschs
- Do I want Pedro back? In a word? NO— JBinPA
- YES, bring Pedro back. I wasn't always a fan, but he proved last year to still have it in warm weather. His start in L.A. in NLCS was masterful. (although I would have given the ball in games 2 and 6 of WS to the 2008 WS MVP Hamels, game 3 to Blanton, and started Pedro in game 4). He proved he's still got it. Sign him before someone else we'd likely be facing does.
Hamels and Kendrick for Cliff Lee. Sooner the better.- The phils can't win WS with one dominant pitcher. Lee trade will prove to be huge mistake in playoffs. Cole done as #1 type starter, no confidence. Let's hope Happ can make a difference bc this ownership group will not go above and beyond for us fans.— philscheapowners
- Lets wait till mid season and see if we need him and what shape he's in. GO PHILLIES!!!!— wcoastphan
- We don't have the ammunition to get another big pitcher. We could probably grab another #3 type guy at best, but I think our resources could be spent on bullpen, or a DH. As crazy as it sounds, we need a bonafide guy who is comfortable hitting in a DHs spot for the WS, instead of trotting out Dobbs, Gload, or Francisco.— richards4captain18
- no i don't want pedro back.— forbiddenlist
- Seems like Hamels should be included in that list of lack luster performances. Happ at this point is the real ace lefty in the rotation and for all intents and purposes Hamels has learned nothing from the last two years. I agree that Kendrick will go to the pen or AAA but substituting Martenez (+$10 mil) for Moyer $8 mil) is just rubbish. Sounds like Phila press core on more fishing expoditions to me.— Wally 24
- People who are saying Cliff Lee. You are not allowed to like Doc. You are not allowed to root for him. It is a slap to the best pitcher who wants to be here! To his family, please give the best pitcher in baseball his due. MOVE ON!He has a 0.56 ERA and you root for Cliff Lee over Doc! Really! The man who leaves 200 million on the table to be a Phillie! Really! YOU DON'T GET TO ROOT FOR HIM!The player of the week in Baseball is Roy! Respect him!— twentysecs
- PEDRO!!! PEDRO!!! PEDRO!!! As much as I LOVE this Phillies team, it would be great to have Pedro back. Jamie Moyer's act is getting a little old (literally and figuratively).— JesseH
- please no pedro....please— thebaron
- Isn't this "Cliff Lee" guy ready to come up from the Minors yet? And how come I never heard of this man?........Is he a first baseman, and don't we already HAVE one of those? (I mean if you don't ALREADY have a first baseman, won't all those throws from those other guys go right into the stands or something? So don't be silly, if we already HAVE one, who needs this "Cliff Lee" fella! And just what in the world is a "Pedro Martinez"? If it's some kind of exotic Cuban drink (like a "Jose Feleciano") I thought alcohol was not allowed in the clubhouses any more...did WE get some kind of dispensation on that?— TBear
- pedro was gassed by the world series last year. he just doesn't have it in him to throw more than 80 pitches consistently anymore. He pitched one great game late in the year last season (8 innings) and then he lost velocity and command noticeably as the season drew to an end. This isn't 2000. It's 2010. He's an intriguing player with lots of charisma, but it's over Johnny. It's over!— TouchingCloth
- Cliff Lee in not exclusive of Halladay. It is proven you need 2 top of the line starters to win a WS. As evidenced by the lack of wins other that Lee in the WS last year. Don't forget, not only did the Phils let go of the 1-2 punch with Lee and Halladay, they failed to find a closer, bc lidge is done as well. Mentally more so than physically. So unless Madson can obtain the mindset to close, he has the talent, this club will not WIN the WS, they will make the playoffs and probably get to the WS, but not beating the American League winner with the lack of WS pitching. Ownership group via puppet Amaro tried to sell you the reupping the farm with talent BS argument, when we could have gotten 2 pix for Lee if we didn't resign him. Which I would have kept him and let go of another starter that makes a high salary like Blanton.....— philscheapowners
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Lidge could close a game in 2008. Not anymore, and the Yanks didn't have the pitching they have now as well as other top level teams who loaded their first 2 starters. Not happening with this pitching staff, should be a fun regular season to watch though....— philscheapowners
- I do not see Lidge having any positive imoact for the Phils. He is DONE!— burdh
Bring Zimm in to coach while your at it. Peace and love abound.
Someone has to put the sugar in Amaro's coffee— Bone- twentysecs wherever you are, it's nice they let the patients have access to a computer, unfortunatley they obviously don't give you access to reading material. Roy Halladay himself said he wanted Lee on the team and didn't know he was traded until his deal was done. Bet he was disappointed. By the way, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, and Charlie have also made it clear they weren't happy about the trade. Go yell at them and see how that works out for you. YOU DON'T GET TO TELL OTHER FANS WHAT TO SAY OR THINK OR WHO THEY CAN ROOT FOR.— TMcG
- Comment removed.
- Hmmm, and how much rope will they give Hamels?— vnvets
Get rid of Hamels while he still may have some trade value.- Dull.........is— mick314
- Cole Hamels looks great. Trade him for Cliff Lee.— brent179
- CLIFF LEE apologizes to all his fellow Phils fans who didn't GET IT! GO Doc!— stan the man too
- kendrick is not an MLB pitcher. and he keeps proving it over and over. every spring training everyone gets all excited that he wins a few grapefruit games and every season he can't get out of the fifth inning.— snakeplissken
Y'all still think signung Polanco to a 3 year deal is a mistake?- Y'all still think signung Polanco to a 3 year deal is a mistake?
The number one priority for the trade deadline will be to get a closer! Any scrub team with a decent closer who can come here and close, or work setup as needed. Maybe one of Toronto's spare closers either Frasor or Gregg.— burholme- Can't believe there is nothing else to write about besides a rumor about a washed up pitcher. Instead of regurgitating rumors, how about some real articles about the farm team players we don't get to see. Sorry, I guess that would require some actual journalism vice surfing the net. P.S. For all you Cliff Lee fans, how many games has HE won this year. Roy is 2-0. Good move Ruben.— flyerdup
- If Cliff Lee were still with the Phillies, the entire city would be in panice mode. You would be reading stories likening Lee's injury to Cole Hamels' struggles last season. There would also be reports that he may not pitch this season or may not be ready to pitch unitl mid-June or later. In the meantime, the Phillies would have some one not on the current roster starting in the rotation (most likely a minor leaguer) because Blanton is still hurt. And when he returned, they would still need Kendrick and Moyer to both start until Lee returned. This season would certainly not be starting well had the Phillies kept Lee. Lee is gone. There was no guarantee the Phillies would have been able to sign Lee to a long-term deal. IMHO, the Phillies have decided they need to win within the next three to four years because by that time Howard and company will be old as far as baseball is concerned.— titan999
- I say yes..maybe he can help some of the younger guys!!!! Low risk high reward with Pedro same as last year!!!!!— fly4philly
- By all means bring him back in July. He's a warrior!
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High Cheese is your place for the best Phillies coverage from the Daily News.
David Murphy
Daily News Staff Writer
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