Pedro Martinez a Yankee? Don't Count on It

By DOUG RUSH

I thought hell had frozen over, because there have been reports that the Yankees were considering Pedro Martinez for 2009.

This is the same Pedro Martinez who was on the hated Boston Red Sox, throwing Don Zimmer to the ground in the 2003 ALCS.

This is the same Pedro Martinez who went toe-to-toe with Jorge Posada, mouthing off at each other from the mound to the dugout.

This is same Pedro Martinez who the Yankees could have had as a free agent in 2005 when he left the Red Sox via free agency, but chose to go with Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright?

Yep, the same Pedro Martinez who signed the 4 year, $52 million dollar deal with the New York Mets and the only season he actually lived up to the hype of his contract was 2005, going 15-8 in 31 starts.

After 2005, Martinez made a combined 48 starts over the next three years. In 2006, when the Mets were the best team in the National League vying for a chance to make the World Series, Martinez was on the disabled list with one of his numerous injuries.

In 2008 during the Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets, the Yankees teed off on Pedro in the second game of a doubleheader.

In 2008, Pedro was healthy for most of the 2nd half. His fastball didn't even top 90. His breaking pitches weren't breaking. He was a shell of his former self. And teams were no longer scared of him. He finished 2008 with a 5-6 record and a 5.61 ERA.

And this is a guy the Yankees want?

Now granted, he did look dominant in the World Baseball Classic, but that was an exhibition and that was also back in March. It's now late June. He claims to be in shape, but so what, how's his arm going to hold up in the summer against teams who are catching their strides?

The Yankees should stay away from Pedro. If they were going to sign him, 2005 would have been the ideal time; I would have taken Pedro over both Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright; but not in 2009.

Martinez, who is 37, is too prone to injury with a loss of velocity and dominance. The Yankees would be better off sticking with Chien-Ming Wang, who at least has his velocity and movement, but can't find the plate.

If Pedro were to sign anywhere, a National League team like the Cubs or Mets would be a better fit. Pedro does not belong in the Bronx.