Let me paint the current scenario. The Yankees are a starter short without Chien-Ming Wang, and their depth past Phil Hughes is unproven in Sergio Mitre and the human pitching machine, Jason Johnson. Ian Kennedy is another option, but both he and Hughes are developmental players, not spot-starters. It would be difficult, at this point in time, to deny the Yankees need a veteran, whether it's a starter for depth or a reliever for guidance. Mariano Rivera is a proven and dominant force to end games. Brian Bruney has shown brilliance when healthy, but he is on the disabled list. Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez can both be effective, Veras in more situations. Phil Coke is young, talented, pitching better and will be a big arm late in games as a lefty. Jonathan Albaladejo and Damaso Marte have ranged from inconsistent to terrible, and it's disappointing because both have potential.
Mark Melancon could also make an impact, but he has pitched three innings at the major league level. The Yankees could use a John Smoltz type, someone who can be inserted at some point into the rotation or the bullpen, for a short contract and a little chunk of change. If they could find someone with AL East experience and a playoff pedigree, that would be ideal. So why then, is Pedro Martinez still unsigned?
Think about it before you make judgment; this isn't a desperation move, it's a logical one. The Red Sox didn't sign Brad Penny because they didn't have a suitable fifth starter, nor did they sign Takashi Saito because they didn't think they had a setup man. If you can criticize Brian Cashman for ANYTHING, it's his evaluation of pitching and the ensuing depth that is necessary to a team for a full season. He did a lot better this year by signing two front-end pitchers, resigning Andy Pettitte healthy and at a third of the price, and keeping Joba Chamberlain in a starter's role. Cashman has built a rotation for 2009 and beyond with guys like Wang, Burnett, Sabathia, Chamberlain and Hughes in the picture for the long term. He has affordable depth in Mitre and Kennedy and what ever other pitchers come through the pipeline as a starter from the Yankees' farm system.
The bullpen has a ton of talent, and even more being developed in the minors, but it's clear right now Wang has a problem, Bruney is out, and the other relievers aren't yet in mid-season form. Martinez struggled in his first inning of games last year, but his two best performances came in his second and third innings of work, in other words, when his velocity was at its highest. Martinez as a reliever, which is a step better than no job whatsoever, would make a ton of sense for the Yankees. The only team that has possible interest so far has been the Nationals, but do you think Pedro wants to go out on a last place team and arguably the worst ballclub in baseball? No, of course not, he'd be much more open to a big market, renewing the rivalry, playoff baseball, and a farewell suitable for the end of his career. Even if it means the bullpen. Even if it's as a set-up man or just another late inning pitcher. The Yankees have nothing to lose but $5 million dollars, and that's coincidentally about what they shed in payroll when all was said and done last season.
Does this make too much sense? Am I missing something? Clearly nobody else wants to foot that type of bill for a questionable starter, but the Yankees have no financial limitations, a small bit of money to spend without any impact whatsoever, and they can benefit from a veteran presence in a bullpen filled with talent but in need of some guidance. I refuse to believe Pedro wouldn't agree to this, especially since there are some Dominican sources that indicate Pedro claims the Yankees showed interest. We're talking about a guy who struggled and was hurt as a starter last year, but is just two years removed from a 2.57 ERA in the NL East, which is about as good offensively as the lineups in the AL East. Pedro facing three to six batters per game might help his velocity, his health, and his numbers.
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