Pedro Martinez says retirement possible

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - Pedro Martinez is recovering well from an operation on his right shoulder but said Friday he would consider retiring if he does not return to full strength.

"It's getting better and progress is above all what is hoped for," Martinez told The Associated Press. "To go back I have to recover, I have to be healthy. But if God doesn't want that, then I would have to think about giving it all up."

The New York Mets pitcher said he is working on flexibility but that he, "won't put his hand on a ball," until at least March.

Martinez, 35, missed the playoffs and end of the 2006 season with a torn right rotator cuff and an injury to his leg. The Mets, forced to start backup pitchers, were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series.

The Dominican-born pitcher went 9-8 with a 4.48 earned run average but said 2006 was the toughest season of his career.

"It's going to be a bitter winter because I am going to have to do a lot of work. The pain I feel was one of the worst I have felt with any injury in my career," the three-time Cy Young Award-winner said.

Martinez, just two strikeouts shy of a career 3,000, has two years left on his contract with the Mets.

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/6134556

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:o I'm not ready for this!!! I'm the biggest fan of Pedro!!! I hope he gets well and returns better than ever!!

Awwww c'mon Pedro...

As a Phils fan, This is good but as a fan of baseball im not ready for a non pedro era

As a Yankee fan, I think its great news, :D

But, as a baseball fan I hope he comes back. I'd be very surprised if he does retire.

Maybe they can plant a mango tree in the bullpen to entice him, :D

I'm not expecting retirement from him...

That's exactly how I feel, classicman.....even when he was with the Red Sox and mowing down Yankees, I thought Pedro was amazing and I would pay to watch him pitch, anytime, anywhere.....I'm not ready for his era to be over!!! :(

this is a littl bit of a shock to me, i hope he can go another year at least.

yay!

but I'm betting he comes back

I hope Pedro retires so he doesn't come back become a good pitcher and do good against the Yankees. Allthough I say good luck to him.

As a yankee fan i'm happy but as abaseball fan i'm kinda sad. I don't think pedro should retire yet but i wish him luck. Pedro will be a hall of famer but he shouldnt end his career with the season he hd last year

he should give himself one more chance to see how it turns out

haha thats exactly what i was thinking when i saw that.




maybe he should take wright with him into retirement. and beltran. and reyes.

lol..he did so much for the Mets

I Could only Dream :P

i doubt he will come back its to much work to come back and then just to get injured again

Im betting he comes back. By the time he is even ready to come back it will be the second half of the season. He would be a big boost to the staff if he can make it back in time for a playoff push... if anyone else can even try to make it interesting next year.. ;)

Mets will be screwed if Pedro retires. Glavine will is on the brink of retiring. That will leave their 1/2 hole unfilled and it'll make Barry Zito a MUST for them to get.

Pedro is one of the greatest active pitchers and if he retires it would not only hurt the Mets but baseball itself. Even if he does come back I doubt he'll be as good

yea injuries are weighing him down considerably