The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Pedro Martinez and the Phillies have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million that includes $1.5 million in incentives.
Yahoo! Sports reported earlier that Martinez passed his physical, clearing the way for him to sign.
Yahoo’s Gordon Edes writes, “A press conference to announce the signing is expected to be held in Philadelphia on Wednesday.” The Inquirer reported that when Martinez left an area hospital after his physical, he said, “Nothing’s done yet.” He also said in Spanish, “I feel good, thank God,” and was greeted by several fans in the street.
Martinez reportedly arrived for his exam near 11 a.m. and left close to 1 o’clock.
David Murphy wrote, “Privately, several members of the Phillies organization have indicated that the physical is an end-point and not a beginning, that if doctors give Martinez a clean bill of health, a news conference could come as soon as tomorrow.”
Inquirer writer Andy Martino speculated that the announcement is delayed to avoid conflict with tonight’s All-Star Game.
Murphy reported that Martinez’s agent, Fernando Cuza, would not say if an MRI exam was part of the physical.
“Most physicals are formalities. But for Martinez, that does not appear to be the case,” Murphy wrote.
Martinez is joining the Mets’ archrivals. MyFoxPhilly.com says the Phillies expect Martinez to be ready to pitch for them in three weeks, after a minor-league tuneup.
GM Ruben Amaro would not say if Martinez had passed or not, but confirmed to MLB.com that Martinez would need to pitch in the minor leagues before he is ready to join the Phillies’ rotation.
“We’re still trying to assess where he is,” Amaro said. “He would need some time [in the minors] absolutely.”
The Mets next play the Phillies on Aug. 21-24.
The Phillies were impressed with Martinez’s work in two simulated games their scouts watched last week. They believe Martinez looked better than he did last year when he went 5-6 with a 5.62 ERA for the Mets.
“They said they liked Pedro,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told the Inquirer. “They said he threw better than he was last year and that he was in better shape.
“Pedro is a professional. I’ve never had trouble with guys in the clubhouse. Just ask him to be professional, and if we get him, I’m sure he’ll go along with whatever we do.”
Former Mets teammate David Wright was confident Martinez, who turns 38 in three months, can still deliver.
“Judging by the WBC he pitched pretty well. You can never count a guy like Pedro out,” Wright said in St. Louis at the All-Star Game. “He’s got a certain competitiveness to him and a fire to him that not too many pitchers have. Whether he is throwing 95 or 88 (mph) he is going to find a way to get guys out.
“I’m happy for Pedro because I know he wants to pitch. I consider Pedro a tremendous teammate and a good friend of mine, so I somewhat wish him luck, but not really.”
Johan Santana added, “He’s been a great pitcher for a long time and he still feels he has something to show and he is getting that opportunity with Philadelphia. I think it’s going to be great for him and it’s going to be another challenge for us but we’ll be ready for it. I believe he still has something left.”
Though most expected the deal would be in the $4 million range, FOX Sports reported Martinez would sign a minor-league contract.
“When people find out what the money is, they’re going to be surprised,” one source told Ken Rosenthal. “It’s not about the money.”
Edes reports, “It is expected that Martinez is signing for a pro-rated amount of the $5 million he reportedly was seeking in the spring, although some of the money might be tied to incentives.”
With Mark Hale
