cheapie

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pedro Martinez says he told Red Sox management he didn't want to be in the shadow of fellow ace Curt Schilling. He also hopes his new team, the New York Mets, will sign his former Boston battery-mate, Jason Varitek.

In an interview with the Boston Herald, Martinez criticized the negotiating tactics of Red Sox officials, saying he repeatedly got mixed signals from team president Larry Lucchino, owner John Henry and General Manager Theo Epstein, whom he called "arrogant."

Martinez signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Mets this week. He said he left the Red Sox after seven years partly because he didn't want to be second in the starting rotation behind Schilling, who was acquired last offseason and helped lead the team to its first World Series championship in 86 years.

"I told [Henry], 'You want to sign me, get it done. Please force them to get it done. I'm willing to stay here. Negotiate with them. I just don't want to be under Schilling," Martinez said.

He also said he deserved a better deal than Schilling.

"Schilling is 38, I'm only 33," he said. "The fact that I had an off-year doesn't mean that I can be below Schilling. Still, with an off-year, I'm way over Schilling as a pitcher and I've pitched pretty much like Schilling the last few years, if you're going to talk about durability."

Red Sox officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Asked what other free agents he thought Boston would sign, Martinez said "they'll be stupid not to do Varitek. Varitek is the next one gone. Theo's going to have the biggest problem with him."

Epstein has said signing Varitek is one of his offseason priorities. The catcher is reportedly seeking a five-year contract worth more than $50 million, with a no-trade clause.

"I hope he is gone," Martinez said of Varitek. "I hope 'Tek is on my team."

Asked whether that meant he wanted to get rid of current Mets catcher Mike Piazza, Martinez said, "I do want Piazza, too. Piazza is a good hitter. We can move him to first or somewhere. ... I want 'Tek. 'Tek is a good player, a good catcher."

He also said Epstein and Lucchino "weren't getting along in negotiations. Lucchino would say one thing and Theo would show up with another."

He said Epstein treated his agent, Fernando Cuza, poorly during negotiations.

"Theo got really arrogant on Fernando and I didn't appreciate it," Martinez said. "Theo believed that he had me and wasn't the nicest man communicating with Fernando."

He said Red Sox manager Terry Francona played a small role in managing the team, taking his cues from the team's front office.

"Francona is subject to what they decide," Martinez said. "Francona had no say, like he didn't have any say in managing the team. He was manipulated from upstairs."

Asked for evidence to back that assertion, he said, "I was in the clubhouse, that's how I know."

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tupacboy

lol... i'm thankful for the memories pedro has given me while he's at boston... and that's about it... for him to talk like this... just proves it was time for us to move on.. bye pedro...

Booyamos

i just read that too, pedro can take that contract and stick it up his @$$!!!

I think it is a good thing we got rid of him, though it does leave us with a big hole to fill pitching wise. he has always marched to his own beat and had his own rules. He didn't even go to NY for game 6! what a douchebag!

He was great for Boston, but was always whining and getting special treatment. I hope his arm falls off.
good riddens


and the part about being in the shadow of Schilling... well thats cause he is a better pitcher than you budy. Always has been, always will be, he's got the rings and the trophies to prove it. deal with it. Its all about the money, money money money, blah.

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Boo ya Grandma

civicdidex

"didnt want to be in the shadow"....aint that just the story headline of the year...

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fate grasps me and blurs my vision

kei2

Yeah Schilling's way better than Martinez. If nothing else Curt's playoff clutch factor is worth more than Pedro's paycheck. With the Diamondbacks he pitched like 3 games out of 7 and his team won all 3 right? And then he pitched well even with the bum ankle and all the pressure on this past postseason. Pedro's used to being the best in Boston, I'm surprised it took him a whole year to realize he no longer is.

eSDee

Maybe if Pedro wouldn't have melted down in the playoffs a year before, the Sox wouldn't have had to get Shilling and he wouldn't have to worry about being in his shadow. Pedro says that Epstein is arrogant? That hilarious coming from his little arrogant arse. Anyways, I like the Mets and I hope that he can bring them out of the cellar, but it's doubtful. I think he is past his prime and will start getting lit up on a regular basis soon.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 days ~ Willie Nelson

3 days I dread to see arrive
3 days I hate to be alive
3 days filled with tears and sorrow
yesterday today and tomorrow

nickel

*thank you that he is not gonna be wearing pinstripes.... at least not Yankee pinstripes*

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baggio248

Or could it be that his hair is tired of being in Johnny Damons hairs shadow.

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Peter: Lois, you've got a sick mind!
Lois: Peter, I'm talking about making love.
Peter: Oh, I thought you wanted us to murder the children and harvest their organs for beer money.

BrewMaster

he does come off like a prick in this article for the most part. i mean, if Francona was "manipulated" to a World Series, I don't think he's complaining.

but about Piazza though, I can't blame him. Piazza is a sh!tty defensive catcher.

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respect beer.

YanksFanRy

I strongly dislike Pedro. Glad he's not a Yankee.

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M-I-Z . . . Z-O-U!

kei2

Of course you're glad. Games against him are free wins. "tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy."