The Mets Don't Want Pedro Martinez

The Mets are currently holding a competition for the team's fifth starter spot in camp between guys like Livan Hernandez, Freddy Garcia, Tim Redding, and Jonathan Niese. There are some decent arms in there, sure, but none of them are exactly screaming "World Series here we come!" Which is why there are so many Mets fans out there who are wondering when the team is going to sign Pedro Martinez.

Well, those fans are going to be waiting for a while. More accurately forever, because according to ESPN's Buster Olney, there is "not a chance" that the Mets are going to bring Pedro back. They're happy with what they've got.

According to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, a baseball source said there was "not a chance" the Mets will sign Martinez. The source said that the reasoning is not financial, but based on concerns about Martinez's pitching command.

Well, the Mets can say that this decision isn't financial, but as Metsblog points out, money surely is a consideration when you look at the way they just cut Duaner Sanchez earlier Tuesday. With Pedro saying he wants a contract like the one John Smoltz got from the Red Sox ($5.5 million guaranteed with another $5 million in incentives) I can understand why the Mets would hesitate.

Sure, when healthy Pedro is worth that money and a far better option than any of the guys the Mets have currently competing for the spot, but how often is Pedro healthy? The guy hasn't started more than 30 games since 2005, which, not so coincidentally, is the last time he won over ten games as well.

This move also indicates that the Mets won't be signing Ivan Rodriguez either. As for what this means for Pedro, the Dodgers, Marlins and Indians may be interested, but nothing is known for sure. Odds are he's going to have to bring his salary demands down a bit.