[Baseball Prospectus] Astros close to signing Pedro Martinez

[rikesh316]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1206

by John Perrotto

The Astros are on the verge of signing a potential Hall of Famer as a free agent for the second team in a week as baseball sources indicated Tuesday night that they are close to an agreement with right-hander Pedro Martinez.

Martinez pitched for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic earlier this month and worked three scoreless innings in relief against The Netherlands. He drew limited interest on the free-agent market, though, after going 5-6 with a 5.60 ERA in 20 starts with the Mets last season.

Martinez, 37, has a 214-99 lifetime record in 17 seasons.

The Astros signed free-agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a one-year, $1.5-million contract. He also has been using the WBC as a showcase while playing for Puerto Rico.

[cardpire]

you beat me by a minute!

holy ****! this is awesome!

[rikesh316]

Astros to hold press conference for Pedro?

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090317&content_id=4006290&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

[Robert Snyder]

So this means that Drayton listened to the advice in Justice's blog from last week?

[Kam]

lol wtf, seriously?


wow.

[RocketManJosh]

I like it!!! Hopefully he can come back strong this year with something to prove. If anything it gives us some much needed depth in the starting rotation!

[justtxyank]

I love it. One of my favorite players in history to watch.

[Cannonball]

you beat me by a minute!

holy ****! this is awesome!

I don't know about awesome. But like Pudge, even in decline he's probably better than what we have at the back end of the rotation. He won't be an inning eater though. The bullpen is going to have to go at least 3 or 4 innings whenever he pitches.

He pitched well in the WBC. 1 hit allowed and 6 K's in 6 IP.

[MadMax]

I don't know about awesome. But like Pudge, even in decline he's probably better than what we have at the back end of the rotation. He won't be an inning eater though. The bullpen is going to have to go at least 3 or 4 innings whenever he pitches.

He pitched well in the WBC. 1 hit allowed and 6 K's in 6 IP.

Given the state of the free agent market, this was a good year to sit back and let nothing unfold....letting opportunities fall here at the very end.

I have no idea what to really expect from Pedro...but I am encouraged by his WBC work.

[justtxyank]

Given the state of the free agent market, this was a good year to sit back and let nothing unfold....letting opportunities fall here at the very end.

I have no idea what to really expect from Pedro...but I am encouraged by his WBC work.

Hard to get excited by the WBC, but Pedro is such a great guy. Astros fans are going to love him if he's healthy, even if he's only average. He is so fun.

[MadMax]

Hard to get excited by the WBC, .

not excited...hopeful.

[cardpire]

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=4213740&postcount=546

cardpire 4 GM? can a brutha get some love?

[stonecold999]

wow, I like it!!

[rikesh316]

This and the Pudge signing are low risk and high reward type of moves. No long term commitments and you really are not adding salary because I think the Astros will cut Backe and Byrdak which will save them about 2 million dollars because their contracts are ¼ guaranteed. Hopefully now someone steps up at third base and centerfield.

[BrieflySpeaking]

Niiice. We need much help as possible on pitching.

[tmacfor35]

This and the Pudge signing are low risk and high reward type of moves. No long term commitments and you really are not adding salary because I think the Astros will cut Backe and Byrdak which will save them about 2 million dollars because their contracts are ¼ guaranteed. Hopefully now someone steps up at third base and centerfield.

Cut Backe, I dont think so.

[BrieflySpeaking]

Cut Backe, I dont think so.
Backe sucks dude. I doubt it they'll cut him tho.

[Cannonball]

Cut Backe, I dont think so.

It's an idea that's been tossed around for a few weeks now. He sucked last year and hasn't really shown anything in limited action this spring. I wouldn't be surprised either way if he got cut or not.

[TheRealist137]

Backe sucks, he is a better pinch hitter than he is a starting pitcher.

Like the moves though, these moves could end up working beautifully and we will be in the Playoffs this year.

[rikesh316]

Sign Andruw Jones and Ray Durham and that would complete this roster.

[rikesh316]

Here is what Ed Wade said:

"We have had zero conversations with Pedro. I have absolutely no idea where that is coming from."


http://footer.mlblogs.com/

[EddieWasSnubbed]

Sign Andruw Jones and Ray Durham and that would complete this roster.
Rumor is that we're also bringing Baggs and Biggio back. :D

[tmacfor35]

It's an idea that's been tossed around for a few weeks now. He sucked last year and hasn't really shown anything in limited action this spring. I wouldn't be surprised either way if he got cut or not.

Dont really follow the Stros until the Reg season begins. The last few years our team has been dominating in spring training but doesnt show up until the second half. Backe being cut would be shocking, the guy was a good pitcher before he got hurt and its said that it takes a two seasons after surgery until the pitcher gets back to where he was before.

[BrieflySpeaking]

Sign Andruw Jones and Ray Durham and that would complete this roster.
:eek: :eek:

[Castor27]

Here is what Ed Wade said:

"We have had zero conversations with Pedro. I have absolutely no idea where that is coming from."


http://footer.mlblogs.com/

I'll believe it tomorrow morning after they announce something else. Last Friday she reported Ed Wade was not doing anything on the Pudge front either. Then Monday, he's an Astro. It may not be anything to do with Pedro, but even though Footer is the MLB beat reporter for the team she hasn't exactly had things on target as of late. My guess Baseball Prospectus is getting their info from someone in Martinez's camp, not Ed Wade.

[rikesh316]

I'll believe it tomorrow morning after they announce something else. Last Friday she reported Ed Wade was not doing anything on the Pudge front either. Then Monday, he's an Astro. It may not be anything to do with Pedro, but even though Footer is the MLB beat reporter for the team she hasn't exactly had things on target as of late. My guess Baseball Prospectus is getting their info from someone in Martinez's camp, not Ed Wade.

True. I heard her on the radio yesterday morning before the Pudge thing was announced and she said there was zero chance that the Astros would sign Pudge. A couple of hours a later, the story broke.

[DieHard Rocket]

What's the difference between the Astros and the Texans? The Astros actually sign the washed up superstars that BBS members/column writers suggest. :p

I don't think he's anything to be excited about, but he definitely can't hurt the rotation. Same thing with Pudge, he's nothing spectacular but is better than what we had.

[cardpire]

I'll believe it tomorrow morning after they announce something else. Last Friday she reported Ed Wade was not doing anything on the Pudge front either. Then Monday, he's an Astro. It may not be anything to do with Pedro, but even though Footer is the MLB beat reporter for the team she hasn't exactly had things on target as of late. My guess Baseball Prospectus is getting their info from someone in Martinez's camp, not Ed Wade.


100% agree. why would that guy make a bold claim like that on a legit site? he's not going to pull this out of thin air and put his reputation on the line for nothing. it's not like he is speculating based on the astros press conference announcement. i'm sure he has no clue there was one even announced.

this would put the nail in the coffin for footer's credibility (not that the pudge situation didn't damage it beyond repair already). i honestly think that either she disgusts ed wade, and he wants to make a mockery of her and her career so he just lies to her repulsive face, or he's cleverly disguising the info he gives her. "we never spoke to pedro". maybe they spoke to pedro's agent, therefore technically not pedro.

i'd still bet heavily on this being true. i'm guessing this was leaked from pedro or even pudge's camp.

[BrooksBall]

This would be great if it gets done. Martinez could disappoint but we don't have much to lose. It would likely be a similar contract to Pudge's.

Thousands of fans have been clamoring to sign Pudge and Pedro for weeks but few people thought either would happen. I like seeing the Astros taking low risk/medium reward moves, assuming Pedro gets signed as well.

[Poloshirtbandit]

*cue price is right losing music*

http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2009/03/drayton_mclanes.html

:(

[Gene the PIG]

I predict it's gonna be about something lame ... something like, "We've re-upped our endorsement contract with What-A-Burger" or something.

I'll be at the game tomorrow. Sec 103 row 2 seat 9

Come say "hi."

[cardpire]

i predict that the press conference isn't about pedro, but that we sign him at some point soon.

[Castor27]

i predict that the press conference isn't about pedro, but that we sign him at some point soon.

I'm too lazy quote you twice , and the fist part I posted was wrong I went back and looked at it and Footers PC announcement was before the BP stuff.

I also don't know if Wade does it to get at Footer or what but notice he sometimes says things like we haven't talked to Pudge for a while, then when the news broke Monday, all of a sudden it was like "Well it happened fast over the last couple of hours"> I don't really buy that but I also don't know if he is just being coy because he doesn't want to show anything in his hand.


I also agree tomorrow's PC will probably be something lame and not about Pedro, and that he will be signed in the near future, with another quote sayign "It came together really fast..."

[Fulgore]

Sign Andruw Jones and Ray Durham and that would complete this roster.LOL damn thats cold dude :D

[JLEW1818]

GO LOOK AT MY THREAD. DID I NOT CALL THIS??? THANK YOU !!!!

[BrooksBall]

GO LOOK AT MY THREAD. DID I NOT CALL THIS??? THANK YOU !!!!

Props.

[JLEW1818]

lol, I'm drunk, sorry about they "yelling" haha.

I figure, a healthy puge and pedro, will give us 10 more wins this year.

[JLEW1818]

Why did my Pedro Martinez thread get closed? Sorry for being the first one to realize that we would probably sign him. It's funny how the typical Houston fan will bash a player, when somebody mentions signing him, but then as soon as they do sign him, its a great decision. :p

[Kate81]

At this point, any pitcher with any type of upside is a good signing for the Astros. They need all the help they can get.

[lalala902102001]

Don't think that Pedro has much left, but any capable pitcher is an upgrade for the 'Stros.

[BigM]

pedro is one of my all-time favorite players. doesn't look like we'll sign him but it'd be fun to see him in an astros uni even if he may not have much left.

[rhino17]

Here is what Ed Wade said:

"We have had zero conversations with Pedro. I have absolutely no idea where that is coming from."


http://footer.mlblogs.com/
translation

"we will have Pedro signed in 2 weeks"

[Shehzad23]

Astros having no contact with Pedro

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090317&content_id=4008774&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

[Pete Chilcutt]

If we had alll these people we signed this year maybe 4-7 years ago we would be the Yankees!

But in all seriousness I'm excited if this goes through...any help in pitching would be welcomed

Chilcutt

[K mf G]

what a buzzkill

[EddieWasSnubbed]

If we had alll these people we signed this year maybe 4-7 years ago we would be the Yankees!

But in all seriousness I'm excited if this goes through...any help in pitching would be welcomed

Chilcutt
If you are really Pete Chilcutt, that's awesome.

If you are not, and pretending to be him, while signing off on your posts as "Chilcutt," that's pretty gangster in a completely random way.

[rrj_gamz]

that would be awesome...I know he's not the guy he use to be, but he's still an upgrade...

[bobrek]

Looks like the reporter who broke this story on Baseball Prospectus has now apologized for the misinformation:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1208

[MadMax]

Looks like the reporter who broke this story on Baseball Prospectus has now apologized for the misinformation:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1208

wow..freaking awesome he did that.

[DaDakota]

Ed Wade, is worse than Tim Pupura....ugh.

DD

[Refman]

Ed Wade, is worse than Tim Pupura....ugh.

DD
Because he wouldn't sign a 37 year old pitcher with a history of injury problems who posted a 5.60 ERA last year to a $5M a year deal?

Riiiiiggghhhht.

[Harrisment]

Ed Wade, is worse than Tim Pupura....ugh.

DD

Based on what? :confused:

[emjohn]

Ed Wade, is worse than Tim Pupura....ugh.

Disagree, big time.

[Rashmon]

Is Tom Seaver still alive?

[K mf G]

how about
ed wade is barely better than tim purpura

[sammy]

how about
ed wade is barely better than tim purpura

idk about that either

i thought he helped construct the phillies team? please correct me if i'm mistaken