Is it all on the table for Red Sox, Martinez?
While the Red Sox celebrate their first Thanksgiving as world champions since 1918, general manager Theo Epstein can reflect fondly on the most productive turkey dinner in franchise history last year even as he considers a full plate of challenges before him, including the latest rumblings out of New York about the Yankees pursuing Pedro Martinez.
Epstein, who made the most of Shonda Schilling's Thanksgiving meal last November by forging a deal to unite her husband, Curt, with Martinez in the Sox rotation, is likely to know by next month whether Martinez has pitched his last game in a Boston uniform.
If the Yankees offer Martinez a four-year deal worth $50 million to $60 million (as has been variously reported and refuted), his sensational run with the Sox could be over. The Sox have given every indication they are dead set against bidding higher than their perceived estimate of Martinez's value and appear likely to step aside if the Yankees, Mets, Angels, or Cardinals, among other potential suitors, push the price for the three-time Cy Young Award winner beyond their predetermined range.
Epstein has not commented on Martinez's situation, but some Sox officials privately bristled when they perceived, after they sweetened their initial offer last week, that Martinez had portrayed the Yankees as more interested in him than they may have been to try to drive up Boston's price. The Sox seemed to respond to Martinez's characterization of the Yankees' involvement by presenting him their enhanced offer, which he left on the table.
Martinez initially spurned a two-year proposal worth $25.5 million with a $13 million option for 2007 and $2 million in potential performance bonuses. He also remains unswayed by their latest offer.
Should the Sox and Martinez eventually find common ground, he would return to Boston after developing a new relationship with the archrival Yankees. In addition to Joe Torre and Jorge Posada extending him verbal olive branches, Martinez held cordial meetings last week with George Steinbrenner and Derek Jeter in Tampa and with Alex Rodriguez in Miami. Rodriguez made a sales pitch to Martinez over dinner, the New York Post reported yesterday. With the Martinez situation in flux, the Sox remain poised to compete for the services of Carl Pavano and Brad Radke, two of the top starters on the free agent market. The Sox would need only one of the two if Martinez were to return, though Pavano and Radke have many other suitors.
Epstein also needs to resolve the team's catching dilemma. With incumbents Jason Varitek and Doug Mirabelli free agents, the Sox have made competitive offers to try to re-sign both players. Varitek would be harder to replace because there is no comparable catcher on the free agent market and very few, if any, of his caliber available on the trade market.
The Sox also need a shortstop. And, no, they have not ruled out Orlando Cabrera, despite remarks in yesterday's Globe by the shortstop's agent, Dan Lozano.
The Sox were surprised that Lozano was quoted as saying team officials had not returned his two phone calls and that he was uncertain what Boston's agenda was in filling its need for a shortstop. Sox officials said Epstein spoke with Lozano during the general managers' meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla., earlier this month and made clear the team's interest in trying to re-sign Cabrera.
The conversation led the Sox to believe Cabrera wanted to wait to gauge the market before he began negotiating with them, and the Sox agreed to defer the issue but remain amenable to opening talks at any time. Cabrera seems particularly interested in learning what Edgar Renteria will command as a free agent.
With Nomar Garciaparra's value likely diminished by his injury-marred season, Renteria is considered the top free agent shortstop on the market. A four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glover, Renteria, 29, has hit .289 with a .346 on-base percentage over nine seasons with the Cardinals and Marlins. He hails from Colombia, like Cabrera, who has indicated he considers himself only slightly below Renteria in potential value.
Many questions facing Epstein may be answered during the annual winter meetings Dec. 10-13 in Anaheim, Calif. By then, teams will have decided whether to offer salary arbitration to their free agents and the offseason shopping bazaar should be in full swing.
