The news of Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez having a rotator cuff tear is not a shocking one. Word of him having an injured shoulder goes back to 2001. Instead of surgery it was recommended he strengthen the muscles around the injury and it carried him for a bit. Finally, it has caught up to him this year along with a rash of other injuries. Soon to be 35 and with rotator cuff surgery it appears the Boston Red Sox were correct in not giving him the whopping contract the Mets gave him at four years and 53 million dollars. Boston’s top offer was three years and a little over 40 million. Either way, no bread line for Pedro. His fans? Maybe.
Martinez has certainly been an excellent pitcher and is a sure Hall-of-Famer. He has been dominant for years and only in recent time have questions popped up regarding his value. He was a major signing for the “new” Mets and is generally viewed as not only a great pitcher but good clubhouse guy. But with this poor year along with the fact he will not be back until around the All-Star break next year, the question must be asked if this was a good signing by the Mets? Listening to many in the New York area they would say “yes.” Pedro brought “credibility” back to the team and all the rest. So, it appears you no longer even have to pitch a lot and you are still “worth it.” This being New York, one wonders if he were even paid 50 million dollars a year would he ever not be worth it?
Pedro won nine games this year. For this he was paid 14 million dollars. Hardly “worth” it. Pedro will get another 14 million dollars next year. He will not pitch until at least half-way through the year and perhaps later. Is this “worth” it? Then he only has one more year and his contract is up with the Mets.
People get very emotional with their sports stars in big cities. It is to the point where it is almost insane. No amount of years or money is “too much.” Then they turn around and wonder why everything costs so much. Well, it has to come from somewhere when a player commands so much money.
Mets new GM Omar Minaya was given the license to takeover the team as he wanted it. Pedro was just one piece of that puzzle. Players like Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Paul Lo Duca, along with the excelling of its young guys, were also a part of it- a bigger one than Pedro. Minaya’s team strategy is what changed the Mets. Pedro, certainly last year, was a big part of the team. This year he was not as big a part of a team that may well go to the World Series. There is a big lesson to be learned from that. Giving pitchers huge money and a lot of years in their mid-30’s is often a shaky deal. It can work out at times but do not be shocked when it does not.
The Red Sox have to be happy they did not match the Mets’ offer. They certainly have their own problems with age, injuries and no team speed. Pedro would have just been one of the walking wounded for this year and most of next year.
Did Pedro bring credibility back to the Mets? He sure helped. But any big name signing would have helped. And obviously it is not just about one guy. The Mets were not a great team last year. This year it is a little different.
Pedro had one good year and one bad year. He will be out for a good portion of next year. The Mets certainly need him back since they are running on fumes with its current staff. But it is an obvious question to wonder if Martinez was worth 53 million dollars? There is still more time to get that answer but the Red Sox are probably giving a big sigh of relief.