Pedro Martinez

Both my head and my heart say that Pedro Martinez will re-sign with the Red Sox and here's why:

What have you done for me lately? Well last year Pedro pitched 217 innings (good for sixth in the AL) - only 9 less than Curt Schilling who is often categorized as a work-horse. Pedro was 4th in the AL in number of pitches thrown per start and his 33 starts last year tied his career high. He seems to be fully recovered from his shoulder problems.

What about his 3.90 ERA you ask? Well it was 3.43 until he used his last start as a tune-up, spring-training like outing when he was preparing for the playoffs. Even 3.43 is higher than what we would expect from Pedro but even with his final 3.90 - he was still in the top 10 in the AL. Pedro was also second in strikeouts and 4th in baserunners per 9 innings. Bottom line - he is still one of the best starters in all of baseball. Most baseball experts will tell you that Pedro's 3.90 ERA was an anomaly.

What about the Mets offer? Well if taken as a three year offer - what the Mets are offering is actually less than what the Red Sox are now willing to guarantee. The difference is in that 4th vesting year from the Mets which could be matched by the Red Sox offering Martinez a $12.5 million 4th year CLUB OPTION.

This 4th year club option allows Pedro to save face and it won't cost the Red Sox anything. Hey if Pedro is still pitching like he did this year then that 4th year will be a bargain for the club anyway.

As an aside - I find it interesting that many of the people who point out that Pedro isn't the same pitcher he was back in 1999 will also try and say that Pedro will sign with the Mets because he is 5-1 with a 1.17 ERA at Shea Stadium. Hello - Pedro hasn't pitched in Shea for 5 years!

While I'm at it let me point out that of course Pedro isn't the same as he was in 1999. That year was perhaps the best year any pitcher has had ever. He went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA that year.

Pedro may have lost a couple miles off his fastball but he is still one of the smartest pitchers in the game with some of the best control. He is similar to Greg Maddux now (but still with more heat). Maddux went 52-26 in the years when he was aged 33-36. I'd take that from Pedro in a heartbeat.

During his time with the Sox - Pedro has gone an incredible 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA. I'm disappointed to say the least about those people who are so willing to say "adios" to a pitcher who has been so great for the Red Sox. Hasn't anyone learned anything from losing Roger Clemens? If Pedro went to the NL - don't you think he's be a favorite to win another Cy Young there? I'm sure these same people who actually want Pedro to walk will also blast the Red Sox for letting him go if Pedro continues to be successful.

I'm happy to know that Theo, Bill James and the rest of the Red Sox front office know what they have in Pedro and will make sure he is in the fold for next year (and 2006 and 2007).

Pedro will be in a Red Sox uniform next year - you can bank on it.