Pedro Martinez, anyone?

by woobie on Nov 16, 2008 4:54 AM EST

From John Perrotto's Sunday notebook:

Finding a starter to stabilize the young rotation is the top priority. Two names that keep circulating in the rumor mill are left-hander Odalis Perez and right-hander Paul Byrd. Perez, 31, was 7-12 with a 4.34 ERA in 30 starts for Washington last season and Byrd, 37, was a combined 11-12 with a 4.60 ERA in 30 starts with Cleveland and Boston.

A most interesting name that can’t be completely ruled out is right-hander Pedro Martinez, who has a long history with Pirates pitching coach Joe Kerrigan and is a cousin of Pittsburgh reliever Denny Bautista, referring to him as “my son, my baby boy.”

The price could be right on Martinez. He is 37, made just 25 starts the past two seasons because of injuries and was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts for the New York Mets in 2008.

http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/11/15/sports/pirates/doc491faab5dc0a0934066343.txt

The Pirates could do worse, I suppose. What say you?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Comments

How much would he want?

Whatever it is, we could take half of it and put it in a cardboard box, pour gas all over it and set it on fire. Then save the other half to cut our losses.

by azibuck on Nov 16, 2008 10:59 AM EST reply actions

How much would he want is the right question to ask. If he wants 10 mil, no thanks. 5 mil or less, sure, even if its for only 12 starts. I would make it a point to watch Pedro at least a couple times next year. I imagine others in the city would too.

Would there be any value to the young pitching staff long term with Pedro’s presence in the clubhouse? I don’t always believe in that line reasoning, but Pedro knows how to pitch, probably better than any pitching coach we could’ve hired.

by Chad Bahamas on Nov 16, 2008 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

lol

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Nov 16, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

LOL

not sure if I completely agree with your view, but I love the way you expressed your opinion.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Nov 19, 2008 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

Pros and Cons of Pedro ?

Cons, He’d be a multi million dollar pitcher who is over thirty and has spent a majority of the past few seasons on the DL.

Pros, A guaranteed sellout for Pedro Bobble Head Night at PNC Park.

by Ketcham Bruce on Nov 16, 2008 9:11 PM EST reply actions

How does Pedro stabilize the rotation at this point?

All he does is tax the bullpen because he is lucky to go 5 innings per start.

by haven on Nov 16, 2008 10:35 PM EST reply actions

Depends.

If it’s five GOOD innings, I can live with that, especially since we seem to be married to a 7-man pen now.

If it’s five Fogg-style innings, where we’re down 4-2 when he leaves every night, I’d probably pass.

by Vlad on Nov 17, 2008 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

Pass

by bucdaddy on Nov 17, 2008 12:24 AM EST reply actions

why the hell not

i’m still not convinced pedro would want to come here in the first place but i’d certainly go to a game or two just to see him. i don’t know that it would help the team at all but we’re going to be terrible anyway. i’d like it just as long as the money that goes to him doesn’t interfere with any rebuilding effort like taking money away from the draft or latin american signings.

by johnnycuff on Nov 17, 2008 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Also worth thinking about:

Kenshin Kawakami. He’s supposedly coming over this offseason (along with the higher-profile Koji Uehara, among others), and I like him a lot as a mid-tier SP option.

by Vlad on Nov 17, 2008 11:39 AM EST reply actions

Vlad

I’m just not sold on Kawakami’s health. He had some arm problems around the Olympics, and didn’t pitch again til late in the season. (I never did hear exactly what was wrong with him.)

I have always liked his competitiveness and control. His “stuff” for the majors is a big question mark for me.

One way or the other, he would be a more legitimate contributor at this stage of his career than Masumi Kuwata was, so he might be worth a try.

As you say, Koji Uehara is the more high-profile guy, and will undoubtedly be the more expensive one as well for 2009. Uehara missed a good chunk of the 2008 regular season, but I’m not convinced it was really due to any significant injury issues. He really was ticked off that the Yomiuri Giants refuse to post players to MLB, and was not prepared physically/mentally at the start of last season, IMO. (He did throw the ball well late in the season/postseason, though.)

I think his pinpoint control will make him a successful MLB pitcher in any role. (I’m not quite sure of his stamina as a starter anymore but 5-6 good innings on a regular basis would help the Bucs.)

It will be interesting to see if the Pirates seriously move to acquire at least one of these guys.

by patthatt on Nov 19, 2008 3:32 AM EST reply actions

I think I read somewhere...

…that Kawakami’s absence was due to a back strain. You follow NPB more closely than I do, though, so it might’ve been an arm thing. How big an issue is his control? He hardly ever walks anybody – is he just wild inside the zone?

I worry a bit about Uehara’s stamina for 2009. Japanese players sometimes have trouble adjusting to the longer MLB season anyway, and when you add on a move back from the pen to the rotation, along with his age… He’s a quality arm, though, no question. I had kind of crossed him off my list preemptively, just because I guesstimated his market as starting around $12M, which would put him out of our price range.

by Vlad on Nov 19, 2008 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

Vlad

I’ve always been impressed with Kawakami’s control, but I just don’t see him as a superior pitcher in MLB as he has been in NPB for many years.

However, at the right price he could be a useful pitcher for the Bucs.

I agree with you about Uehara. We’ll have to see what he asks for and if some other teams that are willing to spend will make his cost prohibitive for the Pirates.

by patthatt on Nov 19, 2008 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, I misread you.

It makes a lot more sense now that I read what you were actually saying.

by Vlad on Nov 19, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

Personally I think

it would be a great idea for the Pirates if they could get him for maybe 4-6 million per year. It would spark an interest with the fans and he is a quality pitcher. People would want to see him play. He would be a great leader and could definetly teach the young guys how to play. He is my favorite player of all-time so I am kind of biased here but still. SIGN PEDRO PLEASE!!!!

BRING BACK TIKE REDMAN

by omar moreno on Nov 19, 2008 1:55 PM EST reply actions

Proud Supporter of the “Pedro to the ’Burgh” discussion.
http://theburghblues.mlblogs.com

Check out my blog, The 'Burgh Blues.

by TheBurghBlues on Nov 21, 2008 7:24 PM EST reply actions

I wouls do anything

I want Pedro to come to the Bucs so bad. It would be amazing. He is my all-time favorite player. I think the pirates should sign tons of old guys and just make the games interesting. If we are going to lose, why not lose in style with Bonds, Palmeiro, and Sosa in the field? Why not have a rotation with Clemens, Pedro, Smoltz, Maholm, and Snell. haha just kidding (kinda). BUT SERIOUSLY, WE NEED TO SING PEDRO.

BRING BACK TIKE REDMAN

by omar moreno on Nov 24, 2008 9:02 AM EST up reply actions

Martinez

I’d like to see this happen. Our young guys could learn alot from a former cy young winner. If he stays healthy,, he could help us. We could also use his as trade bait at the deadline if we are out of it. Go get him Huntington!!!!

by cmeiers on Dec 9, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions