Pedro Martinez reportedly signs 1yr deal with Phillies

[Thursday]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090714&content_id=5875102&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi

Pedro Martinez has signed a one-year contract with the Phillies, baseball sources confirmed Tuesday. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. declined comment just hours after Martinez passed his physical in Philadelphia.

Wow. I wonder if this deal will preclude the Phils from the Halladay trade talks? However, I do like this deal for the Phils as a low risk and high potential upside deal. Pedro most likely won't be ready until Aug. 1, according to a few places I was reading today. He'll most likely start in the minors on a rehab assignment.

[Rubidium]

I'm very happy with the signing. If healthy, I like him better than Rodrigo Lopez or Antonio Bastardo for the fifth starter job, and if not, he's signed for $1m, so there's no real loss there.

Speculation on Phillies boards (not a reputable source) has been that this signing allows the Phils to offer Happ to the Jays in a Halladay trade, which makes sense, although I still can't see the Phillies meeting the asking price the Jays are going to demand. We'll see if anything happens.

Either way, I like it.

[smoovethug]

Low risk for much needed experienced pitching depth, I've got no problem with it.

[bigh0rt]

He'll be good for 5 innings, 3 runs or so. That is, until he faces the Mets and goes 8 scoreless with 11 Ks.

[BitterDodgerFan]

ha so even pedro is desperate. the same pedro who wanted 5 mil this year and sat out until now.

[kickureface]

someone worth grabbing in 12 team leagues?

[AussieDodger]

Comparison - Phillies vs Mets.

Mets: Livian Hernandez $1 mil+ incentives.
Phillies: Desperate Pedro Martinez $1 mil+ incentives.

Mets - FAIL
Phillies - Most likely play-offs.

[Pogotheostrich]

Seems like a pretty good gamble to me. I think Pedro is more suited to the bullpen now but that's a good move by the Phillies.

[Snakes Gould]

Comparison - Phillies vs Mets.

Mets: Livian Hernandez $1 mil+ incentives.
Phillies: Desperate Pedro Martinez $1 mil+ incentives.

Mets - FAIL
Phillies - Most likely play-offs.

this signing surely isnt the reason why though.

yeah i heard the deal was going to be a pro-rated 5 million deal and i didnt like it. now, 1 mil plus incentives = low risk, high reward.

supposedly, hes throwing better than he was last year and after a couple weeks of building his arm strength up, he should be ready to go. i know hes a pretty quirky dude, so im just hoping he doesnt alienate himself from our tight-knit clubhouse.

[speedy27]

saw on ESPN that he signed and was immediately put on the 15 day DL.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4328568