December 13, 2004

Pedro looks headed to the Mets. : It sounds like it isn't inked yet, but that's the intention. Only detail is that it's four years while Boston only went for three.

posted by lil_brown_bat to baseball at 07:02 PM - 30 comments

The hosts of WEEI's "The Big Show" were already killing Pedro for the comments he'll make dring the press conference tomorrow. I can't blame him for taking the money and I'll never hate on him like the callers today. Apparently they all forgot just how great he was to watch. I can never hate him for his first 3-4 years in Boston and for a couple of hours in Game 5 of the '99 ALDS. Call him a prima donna all you want; unlike Clemens, he always gave 100%. I will be stunned if he pulls a Rajah and starts throwing 97 again next year.

posted by yerfatma at 07:42 PM on December 13, 2004

It's a shame that outside of Wakefield none of the guys who finally brought it home were and/or will be very long-term Sox. Still, a fun crew and a good ride. Buena suerte, Pedro.

posted by tieguy at 07:56 PM on December 13, 2004

I'll guess $50 mill will get you anything, I wonder why the Yankees gave up on him.

posted by LROD at 07:56 PM on December 13, 2004

Problably they thought Pedro wasn't worth it, but we'll all see what Pedro brings to the table next season . I for one wish him the best and hopefully with the Mets he'll win 10 or more.

posted by LROD at 08:02 PM on December 13, 2004

Probably they thought Pedro wasn't worth it, but we'll all see what Pedro brings to the table next season . As Eric Wilbur said on Boston.com: "Pedro Martinez is heading to the New York Mets for four years. Can’t wait until we hear the 'Red Sox didn’t respect me' speech. If Boston gave him a fourth year, it’d be a signal they didn’t respect their fans."

posted by Mayor Curley at 08:20 PM on December 13, 2004

A confusing time to be a Mets fan. The ownership wouldn't go out and make a play for Vlad because of his back, wouldn't trade injury-prone Reyes for Soriano, but they'll give Pedro a four year deal? Any Sox fans wanna weigh in on the Arroyo to Florida for AJ Burnett rumor?

posted by crank at 08:27 PM on December 13, 2004

I wonder why the Yankees gave up on him. Rush of smarts to the head? As for Boston, hey, they got nothing to worry about -- they just picked up David Wells. Now that's planning for the long term!

posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:36 PM on December 13, 2004

he got it done, he helped us win and now he can go whereever he wants. we shouldnt be at his every demand and give him a huge contract. I wouldnt mind if the we lost 20 years in a row to be honest. Might as well develop some rookie

posted by wisconsin406 at 08:38 PM on December 13, 2004

Rush of smarts to the head? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ lbb $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

posted by LROD at 09:15 PM on December 13, 2004

He gave us some great years -- his best. Good luck to him. It's purely for the money, obviously, and I hope that's what he says in his press conference. I just want to see him exit peacefully remembering that he just won a World Series in Boston plus how good of a time he's had, and not throwing everyone under the bus as he drives away. The team was very good to him for all those years -- very accomodating. As for the Red Sox, the team suddenly has some big money to toss around and are in dire need of a pitcher. I'm really at peace with it, more than I thought I would be. It is a perplexing move for the Mets and a big risk. As for David Wells... since you brought it up, LBB. He's not our #1. He's not our #2. He's a decent and cheap alternative to Derek Lowe, he's a lefty, proven to be able to pitch in both leagues and has a lot of post season big game experience. We also got him on an incentive laden contract, so if he doesn't perform, he doesn't get his performance based money. The only thing that I don't like is it's a two year deal -- but again, it's incentive laden. At first I wasn't thrilled about Wells, but the more I understand about the contract and his history, I'm okay with it. I'm more comfortable signing Wells for that money, than I would be dropping 10+mil per year on Carl Pavano for 4 years.

posted by jerseygirl at 09:31 PM on December 13, 2004

It's a shame that outside of Wakefield none of the guys who finally brought it home were and/or will be very long-term Sox. Still, a fun crew and a good ride. Buena suerte, Pedro. Depends on how you want to look at it, sort of. Duquette signed a group of them to contracts that ended around the same time -- Varitek, Lowe, Pedro and Nomar. Nixon just reupped his contract last season I believe and he came up in the farm system. As did Nomar. Pedro, Varitek and Lowe all joined the club in 97 via trades. We've had Manny for 4 complete seasons. Considering Pedro, Varitek, Lowe, Nixon, Wake were all on the field in St. Louis and have 7+ years of service with the team each, that speaks to some longevity I think. There is/was a core to that that were long-term Sox -- they just all had their contracts end at the same time. Shit Free agency happens.

posted by jerseygirl at 09:42 PM on December 13, 2004

jersey, who is the Sox number 2 if it isn't Wells? Wakefield? Arroyo?

posted by jbou at 11:50 PM on December 13, 2004

BTW, as a Yankees fan I will always like Wells he's one of the best big game pitchers, he doesn't walk batters, if it wasn't for his bad back I'd still want him on the yankees.

posted by jbou at 11:52 PM on December 13, 2004

he's one of the best big game pitchers Except for that little game a few years ago where he hung his own team out to dry. (by the way jbou, welcome back. Missed ya during the last world series...) It's not a bad pick up for boston. They've protected themselves. I'd much rather have this contract than pedro at 4 years. And just the chance that he beats the yankees at yankee stadium is worth the gamble to me. What fun it would be.

posted by justgary at 12:28 AM on December 14, 2004

jersey, who is the Sox number 2 if it isn't Wells? Wakefield? Arroyo? They don't have one yet. The interesting thing about Pedro leaving is that it may be very good for the Sox (sorry lbb) because it gives them more flexibility. That comes with the caveat that they need to use said flexibility (at this point that includes signing Varitek to a fair deal since they've let most of what little catching help was out there disappear). It allows them to sign Renteria or Cabrera and offer Hanley Ramirez (why can't we ever keep "Can't Miss" kids?) in a Tim Hudson-like deal. Or do something else (Carlos Delgado, etc.). The other school of thought is that they won't sign another starter until the trading deadline next year, but that seems risky. As risky as overpaying for Pavano? Only time will tell. I'm kinda hoping they make Derek Lowe a decent offer since no one else has bothered him yet. Then again, I should be careful what I wish for.

posted by yerfatma at 06:25 AM on December 14, 2004

jbou: BTW, as a Yankees fan I will always like Wells he's one of the best big game pitchers, he doesn't walk batters, if it wasn't for his bad back I'd still want him on the yankees. If it wasn't for his big gut, he wouldn't have a bad back. He didn't have a refrigerator fall on him or something; he had problems because he was out of shape, and I don't think that kind of indiscipline (not too strong a word, IMO) bodes well for any team that signs him, incentives or no. yerfatma: The interesting thing about Pedro leaving is that it may be very good for the Sox (sorry lbb) Hey, I agree with you. Thinking with their heart, a Sox fan would want to keep Pedro; thinking with their head, they'd let him go. That's not to say he's washed up; I just don't think he can perform for Boston enough to make it worth the money he can command.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:50 AM on December 14, 2004

jersey, who is the Sox number 2 if it isn't Wells? Wakefield? Arroyo? No idea, yet. But they suddenly freed up a ton of money and are now in a position of flexibility and also, need. In an realistic ideal world (in my unrealistic ideal world, we somehow trade Kevin Millar for Randy Johnson, and Tim Hudson. hahahaha! Unrealism is fun.), Lowe accepts the arbitration the Sox offered and then Boston goes after someone at the trade deadline.

posted by jerseygirl at 06:57 AM on December 14, 2004

As a Mets fan, I hate this deal. I was hoping that the Mets were finally going to get younger and re-build, but nothing has changed. This winter they've been targeting Alou, Sosa, Martinez... I guess it's good they got the best of those three. I disagree with the move and therefore the assessment, but here's Lupica's take on the length and size of the contract.

posted by 86 at 09:25 AM on December 14, 2004

And now Shaughnessy piles it on. Is a player who's not greedy making $12 million a year suddenly greedy for making $15 million a year?

posted by Prince Valium at 09:28 AM on December 14, 2004

Is a player who's not greedy making $12 million a year suddenly greedy for making $15 million a year? Hell, Pedro was pulling down $17.5 million last year on a one-year extension, so don't spend too long thinking about what Dan-O has to say.

posted by yerfatma at 11:18 AM on December 14, 2004

The Sports Guy weights in, but I've never seen him so ill-informed. I trust Theo just as much as I trust Bellicheck. I know other Sox fans who do too. The article spins every bad mistake missed into luck and every deal that worked out a result of $$$. Describing the Wells' deal as "$16 million to a 42-year-old guy" is completely disingenuous; if Wells makes that much (over 2 years), Sox fans will have nothing to complain about because he'll have hit most or all of his incentives. The article completely ignores the work Theo, et al have done in rebuilding a barren farm system into something that helps get deals done. And a couple of years from now (barring a bunch of trades this winter), it'll be a farm system that restocks the team at an important time.

posted by yerfatma at 12:24 PM on December 14, 2004

Thank God for jerseygirl and yerfatma, because that Sports Guy column sounds like "whine, whine, whine, wh..." Did he care about those seven years in Boston at all? Was he another hired gun like Clemens? Were all the stories about him true, that he was a prima donna who only looked out for himself? Give me a fucking break.

posted by dusted at 01:38 PM on December 14, 2004

I guess the amicable divorce analogy is a good one really...both sides understand that it just had to end this way, Pedro and the Sox, deep down in spite of how they would have liked to see it go it had to be this way... The Sox still get custody of the Red Sox Nation fans... Pedro gets his property settlement $ and gets to remarry the Mets...we'll see how that treats him...

posted by chris2sy at 01:44 PM on December 14, 2004

Pedro gets his property settlement $ and gets to remarry the Mets...we'll see how that treats him... Maybe it will treat him OK...?

posted by smithers at 02:19 PM on December 14, 2004

(Minaya) went so far as to seek the Yankees' counsel on Sunday, asking a high-ranking official if he should offer Martinez that critical fourth year.
Get your crosstown competitors to overbid for a division rival's star pitcher? BRILLIANT!

posted by avogadro at 02:32 PM on December 14, 2004

And now Shaughnessy piles it on. Shaughnessy is a big dumb dope. IMO.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:08 PM on December 14, 2004

Red Sox final offer good enough in November "Martinez said that if the Red Sox could offer that deal then, he would not listen to other teams' offers and sign right away. That was in mid-November." Can that be taken as the Red Sox never really wanting him?

posted by YukonGold at 09:06 AM on December 15, 2004

As for the Mets, it's the old saying about fools and their money or buyer beware. Pedro needs 5 days rest, and he could be the biggest bust in Queens since Mo Vaughn. Without a bullpen, both Pedro and Tommy Glavine will have a hard time getting wins. As for the BoSox, they now have a big void to fill. Their top 3 starters average about 40 years of age, and Arroyo won't scare anyone. Henry, Lucchino and Epstein are very aggressive, and I would guess they'll land Tim Hudson from Oakland before the season starts. To do so they'll have to give up a lot, including the MoneyBall "Greek God of Walks", Kevin Youkilis. Seriously, expect them to firm up their starting pitching staff in a serious way.

posted by SportsProf at 07:23 PM on December 15, 2004

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