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Pedro Martinez Ready To Officially Retire

BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Red Sox great Pedro Martinez will officially announce his retirement soon, the former ace told MLB.com.

"I'm going to [officially announce it], I'm going to do it, but I want to throw a party too," Martinez said. "I want to make it part of every place that I'm going to be remembered and loved by the fans."

The 40-year old Martinez last pitched in the Majors in 2009 with the Phillies, making nine starts. Over his 18-year career, Pedro finished 219-100 with a 2.93 ERA and 3,154 strikeouts. He won two of his three Cy Young Awards with the Red Sox, in 1999 and 2000, winning his first with the Montreal Expos in 1997.

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An eight-time All Star, Martinez was the game's most dominant starters during a four-year stretch from 1997-2000. In that span, Martinez averaged a 19-6 record and 2.16 ERA per season.

Martinez said he still has an itch to play, but enjoys being at home too much.

"I wouldn't say I wouldn't [play again] in any situation, but I find it very difficult for me to come back," said Martinez. "Now I have tasted the normal life, life as a family member, being a family man, being a father. You know what? I like it, honestly. I do miss some of the things in baseball, but not all of it. I think right now my family's my priority."

Read: Pedro Portrait Heading To Smithsonian

In his two Cy Young seasons in Boston, Martinez went 23-4 record with a 2.07 ERA in 1999 and an 18-6 with a 1.74 ERA in 2000. From '99 through 2002, Martinez's ERA was an MLB-best 2.07. He finished his career in Boston at 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA, and was 6-2 in the postseason.

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