Pedro Martinez Joins Red Sox As Special Assistant To General Manager
BOSTON (CBS) -- Pedro Martinez is back with the Red Sox.
The former pitching great and future Hall of Famer was named special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington, the team announced Thursday.
"I am thrilled to be returning to this organization and to the city I love," Martinez said in a team release. "Ben Cherington's meetings this week have been outstanding. It is an honor to be back with the Red Sox and help in any way I can."
Martinez joins Jason Varitek, who was also named special assistant to the GM back in September.
"We are very excited to have Pedro on board with us and back in the Red Sox organization," Cherington said in a team release. "He was one of the game's most dominant pitchers and without a doubt a beloved figure in Red Sox history. Similar to former teammate Jason Varitek, who joined the baseball operations staff in September, Pedro will be involved in several areas, including the evaluation, mentorship, and instruction of young players in spring training and throughout the season."
Martinez pitched in Boston from 1998-2004, going 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA and averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings. He led the league in ERA and WHIP in four of those seven seasons, winning the Cy Young Award in '99 and '00 and finishing second in Cy Young voting in '98 (Roger Clemens) and '02 (Barry Zito). He finished third in Cy Young voting in '03 (Roy Halladay) and fourth in '04 (Johan Santana).
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports
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One of his most iconic moments in Boston didn't even count for the Red Sox. At the 1999 All-Star Game, he struck out the first four batters he faced and recorded K's on five of the six Natioanl League outs, earning MVP honors in the process.
"I am grateful to our leaders," Martinez said. "I believe in them, and I thank them for allowing me to return to the field and help us win again. My heart will always live in Boston."
