01:16 PM EST on Wednesday, February 25, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

QUOTE:

"I'll go compete as a professional with my one year left on the contract and if they don't want to sign me, that's fine. I'm pretty sure I'll probably get a job with someone else."

PEDRO MARTINEZ

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Pedro Martinez wasn't at all excited about meeting the media yesterday at the Boston Red Sox' minor-league complex.

But, in his first day at camp, the three-time Cy Young Award winner seemed at peace with himself on all fronts -- past, present and future.

Martinez has come to grips with Boston's controversial loss to the New York Yankees in Game 7, accepting responsibility for his part in letting a World Series berth slip through the Sox' fingers, while also questioning ex-manager Grady Little's fateful eighth-inning decision to leave him in as long as he did.

Martinez is pleased with his physical condition and optimistic about the team's chances to win that elusive World Championship this season.

And as for his future with the organization beyond 2004, Martinez, who can become a free agent after this season, said he would like to finish his career in Boston but is prepared to move on if the Sox elect not to re-sign him.

Martinez' comments about contract issues last spring led to a media bashing in some quarters, prompting him to boycott the media for the most part in 2004.

This season, at the age of 32 and working on the final year of his contract, Martinez vowed yesterday that he won't talk about such issues and that whether he has a new pact or not, it won't affect how he pitches. He even went so far as to compliment Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for trading for Alex Rodriguez a short time before saying if the Sox didn't want him, he figured some team out there would.

"I'm not interested in talking about my contract right now," said Martinez, one of six Boston stars who could become free agents after this season.

"My situation is not a big deal right now. I think we have a good enough team to win this year, if we stay healthy. I would just like to concentrate on that and leave the contract stuff behind. I just want to play like I should and forget about what is going to happen to me. I don't have anything to prove.

"I'll go compete as a professional with my one year left on the contract and if they don't want to sign me, that's fine. I'm pretty sure I'll probably get a job with someone else," added Martinez, who will make $17 million this year.

Martinez said the Red Sox have not talked to his agent recently about a new contract. He said the "ball is in their court."

And he didn't even seem to have his nose out of joint about the Red Sox' acquisition of 37-year-old right-hander Curt Schilling, whom Boston gave $37.5 million for the next three years with an option for $13 million in 2007.

"I can't help that they wanted to sign Schilling," Martinez said. "I'm happy for Schill. He deserved it. He's a workhorse. He'll give us a lot of help. I don't have anything against it.

"It's like we have two Pedro Martinezes," Martinez added.

Then, after reconsidering the depth in the rotation, he amended his statement.

"With Derek Lowe we have three, and with Wakie [Tim Wakefield] we have 3 3/4," said Martinez.

But the suggestion that Schilling's acquisition will somehow boost Martinez' competitiveness and lead to better results didn't wash with the prideful pitcher.

"I don't expect anybody to push me. I expect to be healthy and push myself," said Martinez. "I don't need anybody to push me. I would like to help him and I would like him to help me if he can give me some advice. But I don't think I need an extra push."

While Schilling enjoys contract security, Martinez does not.

The number of years and the dollar amount may prove to be a sticking point in Martinez' future contract talks, but if he can stay healthy and maintain his standard this season, it shouldn't be a problem to find a team (the Yankees?) willing to gamble on his fragile 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame.

Martinez has been on the disabled list in four of the last five seasons. But last year, despite missing about a month because of a strained latissimus, Martinez went 14-4 with a 2.22 earned-run average.

He didn't fare so well in the postseason. Martinez couldn't hold a one-run lead early in the first-round series against Oakland but won the decisive Game 5. He was more visible, and not in many positive contexts, against New York in the ALCS.

In Game 3, an ineffective Martinez precipitated a brawl by drilling Karim Garcia with a pitch, ultimately resulting in the sight of Martinez fending off and throwing Don Zimmer to the ground after the veteran coach charged Martinez when the benches cleared.

In Game 7, Little stuck with Martinez in the eighth with Boston up, 5-2. But just five outs from the World Series, Martinez was left in, eventually surrendering hits by Bernie Williams (RBI single), Hideki Matsui (double) and Jorge Posada (two-run single) that tied the game, which New York won on Aaron Boone's homer in the 11th.

"Game 7 is over," said Martinez. "We lost it. I'll [take] full responsibility for it. No one to blame. We did what we could. We competed against a good team."

Martinez insisted he did not beg to stay in the game.

"I was asked a question of whether I wanted to pitch to Matsui or not," said Martinez calmly. "It was going to be my last batter. I was asked to pitch to Matsui and I said 'Yes.' If you asked me if I could pitch to anybody, I'd say 'Yes.' I was actually surprised I stayed in there for the last two or three batters."

Now, he says he isn't going to be surprised one way or the other as to how his contract situation plays out. He just wants to pitch.

"I don't know what Boston is going to do. I just have to go out and earn my money," said Martinez. "I'll give Boston an opportunity to sign me when the season is over if they want to talk about it. I would love to finish in Boston. But if it doesn't work out, believe me, I'm going to the (free-agent) market and see what happens."