updated 4:26 p.m. ET March 12, 2009

Pedro Martinez has caught the attention of Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti.

Colletti said Thursday at spring training that he is “curious” about the possibility of filling the team’s fifth spot in the rotation with the free agent right-hander. Martinez pitched six innings of one-hit ball for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic last week.

Manager Joe Torre calls Martinez a tough competitor who may not have the velocity he once had, but has the know-how and ability to keep a hitter off-balance.

“With his history, and I’ve had firsthand experience facing him so many times, he’s a tough competitor,” Torre said. “He was the best in this game at one time. Just from what little I’ve seen of him, he may not have the velocity he once had, but he certainly has the know-how and the ability to keep the hitter off-balance.”

The 37-year-old, three-time Cy Young Award winner broke in with the Dodgers in 1992 and was traded to Montreal for Delino DeShields a year later.

Injuries have limited Martinez over the past three seasons with the New York Mets.

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