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Red Sox: What if the Sox re-signed Pedro Martinez after 2004?

By Charlie Smith

Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez shares a laugh with designated hitter David Ortiz (34) prior to a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez shares a laugh with designated hitter David Ortiz (34) prior to a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Discussing what the Boston Red Sox could have looked like in 2005 if management had retained Pedro Martinez’ services until the end of his career.

Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez shares a laugh with designated hitter David Ortiz (34) prior to a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez shares a laugh with designated hitter David Ortiz (34) prior to a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

There is simply no question that Pedro Martinez was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball in the mid-90’s going into the mid-2000’s. Pedro’s 1999 campaign with the Boston Red Sox is remembered as being one of the most dominant single season performances in the sport. It’s easily one of the top-5 going back the last quarter century.

Martinez sported a 23-4 record in 29 starts with a 2.07 ERA and also struck out 313 batters in 213 1/3 innings pitched. He added a crazy low 37 walks and conceded only 9 home runs. Those are mind boggling numbers.

Not convinced? Pedro had a .923 WHIP that season and had a 13.2 K/9 ratio. Pedro won his second Cy Young in three years for the Red Sox at seasons end.

After spending seven great years in Boston, the Red Sox offered him a 3-year deal worth $40.5 million with a vesting fourth year option worth $13.5 million, making his entire contract value rise to $54 million. Boston thought that they had made a very fair offer to Pedro and thought that he was locked in to finish his career in Beantown.

Unfortunately, due to a last minute offer from the New York Mets, Martinez ended up signing a guaranteed 4-year deal worth $54 million. The only difference between the deals? The Mets guaranteed his 2008 season. Did the Sox make a mistake? Was the compensation pick the Sox drafted worth losing Pedro over?

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