Read the debate intro and Loyal Homer’s argument that it is a wise move by the Philadelphia Phillies to sign Pedro Martinez.
Starting pitcher Pedro Martinez, who spent the entire off-season and the entirety of the 2009 season (until last week) out of Major League Baseball, just signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies last week. Sounds like a great move by Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., right? The one-year, incentive laden deal is perfect because it limits risk… right? Wrong. There are two primary risk points in this deal that Amaro Jr. either dismissed or failed to understand because he was huddled in the corner of his office with his hands over his ears trying not to hear the critics.
The first risk point is injuries. Martinez was shut down last season because of several nagging injuries, and failed to sign with any major league club before or during Spring training because of injury risk – he simply cannot be counted on at this stage of his career to perform at a high level with any consistency. Despite pitching in the World Baseball Classic and working out for several teams – teams that all passed on him – the Phillies felt this would help their ball club. Sometimes general managers must resist the urge to tinker. The Phillies are already a good team this season, and patience is the proper course. Especially when the moment the new player is officially a member of the team he has to be placed on the 15-day disabled list. That’s rarely a good sign.
The second risk point is the ballpark. In four starts at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Ballpark (what a catchy name!) Martinez has amassed a substantial 7.85 ERA – no matter what his injury-status was – thanks in part to serving up four homers and an opponent batting average of .278. Not the stellar stats a GM is looking at when signing a new player… right?
Pedro Martinez’s performance is an unknown right now. Here’s what we do know about his recent history. The last season Martinez spent pitching in the major leagues, 2008, he started 20 games, went 5-6 and had an ERA over 5.61. For a guy who’s pitched five entire seasons with ERAs below 2.27, that’s a substantial drop off. Combine that recent history with his issues at Citizens Bank Ballpark and his injury problems and this is a very perplexing acquisition, no matter how many incentives are in the contract.
After all of these little reasons why it isn’t a good idea for the Phillies to sign Pedro Martinez, here’s the whopper: they just aren’t that desperate. Why take on the risk of a useless signing – a signing that can quickly spiral into a sideshow given the player’s stature and history – for a team that is not only defending World Series champions but also comfortably ahead in the National League East race right now? It just doesn’t make any sense. Martinez needs the Phillies more than the Phillies need Martinez.
While Martinez and his agent understood the various risk factors and limitations he has as a pitcher at this point in his career it appears that Amara Jr. did not. How do I know? Martinez was originally demanding upwards of a one-year $5M contract, but has backed off significantly and settled for the deal from the Phillies. It would appear that not even Pedro has confidence that Pedro will be effective this season.
I know that Pedro’s jersey has been flying off the shelves, and superficially this seems like a good move because it is selling merchandise. Do not be fooled. Jersey sales do not win World Championships (especially if that authentic jersey does not even make the post-season roster). If the Phillies are going to repeat as World Series Champions – something rare and special – they will not be doing it with Pedro Martinez pitching them deep into the playoffs.
