Multiple sources are reporting that free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez has agreed to terms with the Phillies, on a contract for the remainder of the 2009 season (including the playoffs, World Series, and post-Series parade).
Martinez will, reportedly, earn $1 million, plus a possible $1.5 million in incentives. A press conference will be held Wednesday. Martinez will report to the minors, for an immediate rehab assignment, likely lasting until the end of July (three starts?)
It's not clear where he will start his minor league assignment, at this point.
(Let me take this opportunity to recommend that he start in Reading (AA). I'd give him the ball this Sunday, at home against the Rock Cats, with R-Phils starter Mike Stutes taking over once Martinez hits his pitch limit. The Martinez/Stutes combo would follow Yohan Flande, Kyle Drabek, and Joe Savery, and precede Vance Worley in the rotation. After one or two starts with Reading, he could make one or two starts in Lehigh Valley (AAA), sharing Brian Mazone's spot in the rotation. Mazone, who has spent most of the season as a reliever, could replace Martinez in the fifth/sixth inning. This would, hopefully, minimize disruption to the starting pitchers currently at each level.)
The Phillies missed an opportunity by waiting until Wednesday for the official Martinez announcement. I'm guessing that Bud Selig and the MLB Overlords would have been all for this plan:
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(All-Star Game, St. Louis, Bottom of the 1st Inning)
(Cardinals' All-Star Albert Pujols strides to the plate, amidst raucous cheers.)
PA Announcer: May I have your attention, please. Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro has a brief announcement.
(Crowd is startled, but there are few boos. Because: St. Louis.)
(Amaro exits the National League dugout, and walks, purposefully, to the mound. He is wearing a suit, carrying a Phillies cap in his left hand, and a microphone in his right. American League starting pitcher Roy Halladay steps off the rubber, from where Amaro addresses the crowd.)
Amaro: Thank you. The Philadelphia Phillies would like to announce that Pedro Martinez has agreed to terms with the organization. Martinez will join the team for the remainder of the season, and he will share a float with Jimmy Rollins, in the World Championship parade.
(There are scattered cheers from the crowd, with the only boos coming from non-St. Louis fans. Albert Pujols, now in the on-deck circle, applauds.)
Amaro: Just one more quick thing. The Phillies are also pleased to announce the acquisition of starting pitcher Roy Halladay.
(Roy Halladay removes his Blue Jays uniform top, revealing a Phillies uniform underneath. Amaro hands him the Phillies hat. Amaro and Halladay leave the mound, and head to the NL dugout, where Halladay is greeted by some of his new Phillies teammates.)
Amaro (to Jayson Werth): Jayson, we should talk...
Shane Victorino (to Halladay): (shows Halladay his WS ring) We're going to get another one of these. No questions asked.
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The AAA All-Star Game will take place Wednesday night, at 10pm Eastern time.
The game will be aired, live, on ESPN2. Andrew Carpenter, Mike Cervenak, and Andy Tracy will represent the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Joe Morgan will not represent ESPN2 on this broadcast, which is more than reason enough to tune in.
The AA All-Star Game will take place Wednesday night, at 7pm Eastern time.
This is the All-Star Game I want to see. Naturally, it does not appear to be televised. (Hopefully, there will be a broadcast somewhere on the internets.) The Reading Phillies will be represented by Vance Worley, Joe Savery, Neil Sellers, Michael Taylor, and Quintin Berry. (Kyle Drabek has only pitched 46.2 innings at AA (61.2 in A) this season, or else he would probably be on the team.)
The Clearwater Threshers (A) play their next game Wednesday night, against the Brevard County Manatees. The First Place/Juggernaut Sea Cows?! Again?! Who makes this schedule?
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