Pedro Martinez may be coming to New York, but not to the Yankees, the team that first talked to him. The Mets are reported to have made a 3 year $38 million offer to the 33 year-old right hander. The offer tops one from the Red Sox for 2 years and $25.5 million. In mid-November, Martinez told George Steinbrenner that he wanted to be a Yankee, but now a Met? He would be leaving a team that just won the World Series to join a team that has been less than stellar in the NL East.
The offer, if accepted, would be the first splash for GM Omar Minaya (we're not counting the Kris Benson signing), who has dabbled in trading for Sammy Sosa and trading Mike Piazza. Is this the right move for the Mets? Martinez, who would surely hear more "Who's your daddy?" chants or shirts, has signs that his abilities may be on the decline - he lost 5 mph off his fast ball last season. If he signs with the Mets, Martinez will become the rotation's ace, joining Kris Benson, Tom Glavine, Victor Zambrano and Steve Trachsel. Al Leiter, a mainstay of the Mets is unlikely to return in 2005 and may sign with the Yankees.
Of course, this could all be a ruse to dive Martinez's price up with an offer from a team in the nation's largest media market.
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