Pedro Martinez said he would have re-signed with the Mets instead of joining the Phillies if his former team had shown an interest in him.
Speaking at a press conference to announce a one-year deal with the Phillies, Martinez made it clear the Mets were his first choice to return to baseball.
“I was hoping that the Mets would make that move [in the spring] and they didn’t, so I decided to wait,” Martinez said today in Philadelphia.
“It wasn’t my decision to not be in New York. It was someone else’s.”
Martinez has not pitched in the majors since finishing his fourth and final season with the Mets, when the 37-year-old went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA.
He said his goal was to join a contender in the National League, and the defending World Champions, again leading the NL East, fit the description.
“I knew that one of the teams would need pitching at this time, so I waited,” Martinez said. “I actually was able to jump into first place without throwing a ball.”
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Martinez reportedly received a $1 million contract with another $1.5 million available in incentives, a price the Mets were not willing to pay despite losing John Maine and Oliver Perez to the disabled list and a subpar performance so far by Tim Redding (1-3, 7.14), who was given a $2.2 million deal this offseason.
Martinez’s agent, Fernando Cuza, said his last contact with the Mets was in April.
“They made their own decisions and I made mine,” Martinez said. “Free will, everybody has.
“I totally understand the business part of baseball, [and] as dirty as it is, I respect it. I don’t have anything bad to say [about the Mets].
“I’m really glad I’m here. The Mets are gonna go their way, I’m gonna go with Philly in my way. I just have to continue on, no grudges.”
The Phillies put Martinez on the disabled list with a strained shoulder. Martinez claimed he is healthier than he was with the Mets, and would not have to deal with the distraction of an ailing father, as he did last season.
He went 32-23 with a 3.88 ERA in 79 starts in New York over four injury-plagued seasons.
“I had a great experience (in New York). I didn’t do as well as I wanted to,” he said. “I’m sure they know that.
“I have a lot of respect for the Mets organization. … And I’ve got nothing to say but God bless them, I wish them well, I hope that they all get healthy and come back to compete and I wish ’em well.”
The Mets trail the Phillies by 6½ games. The teams play again Aug. 21-24 at Citi Field.
“What if they are in last place at the time I face them?” Martinez asked. “That’s not a big game. It becomes just a game.”
Martinez denied he had an extra incentive to pitch against his former team.
“I would love to tell you that, (but) I can’t hide love, and I have love for those people,” Martinez said.
“I can’t do anything with the hate (Phillies fans) have for the Mets fans. That’s between you guys.”
Martinez will begin his comeback in the minor leagues. He did pitch in the World Baseball Classic before this season.
“I’ll be the first one convinced, really convinced, if I can do it or not,” Martinez said. “If I don’t do it, I’m going to go on and take myself out of baseball.”
With Mark Hale; AP