Pedro Martinez is one of the top free agents this offseason, but his scenario is one where the veteran right-hander's value to the Red Sox is higher than it is to any other team, and in turn Boston's attractiveness to Martinez is without equal among other clubs. So logic says that Martinez stays put.

No place like home
Everything I understand about Pedro Martinez is that with the Red Sox he enjoys a situation similar to the one Barry Bonds enjoys with the Giants.

In Boston, Martinez has many perks (like occasional trips home to the Dominican Republic), and the freedom to do his own thing, and this is tolerated and accepted by Boston management.

With the Red Sox, Martinez pretty much does as he pleases, and all the little personal benefits that he has been given over the years are not to be questioned by anyone new joining the team -- not even by a new manager as was the case this past spring with Terry Francona.

If Martinez goes to any other team, he must consider that what works for him in Boston, could become controversial elsewhere.

The Red Sox are not only the best team for Martinez on the field, but they offer him the most comfortable situation off the field.

I think it would be difficult for another team to take Martinez on, and have things go as smoothly with him as they have in Boston. 

First into the fray
Even before the general managers' meetings began on Nov. 8, sources say the Red Sox offered Martinez a two-year, $25.5 million contract with a $13 million option for 2007, and $2 million in potential performance bonuses.

The 33-year-old Martinez is coming off a $90 million, seven-year contract.

Starting Nov. 12, other teams besides the Red Sox can begin negotiating with Martinez.

Several teams have contacted Martinez to express interest in his services, and they now have Boston's initial offer to consider if they get down to talking money with the three-time Cy Young award winner.

Martinez's durability is in question, but in the right situation, he could prove a top-notch No. 2 starter, even with all the innings he's thrown in the big leagues.

He can still perform very well, but for how many innings a start?

If any team is looking at paying Martinez long-term, big money, there are some areas of key concern.

The first is that after allowing just seven homers in 2003, Martinez gave up 26 homers this season, tying a career high he set in 1998.

His ERA of 3.90 was also a career high, and it marked the first time since 1996 (with Montreal), that Martinez had an ERA of above 3.00.

And as was crystal clear in watching Martinez perform in the postseason, his effectiveness heads south after he reaches the 100-pitch mark.

Yankees not a likely match
It's been whispered that the Yankees will take aim at landing Martinez, but I don't see them getting seriously involved in the Pedro Sweepstakes.

I just think with the Yankees' players and the Yankees' fans there is too much history involving Martinez being a much disliked adversary for him to be a good fit in pinstripes.

If Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner does have an inclination to charge hard after Martinez, I believe the team's front office personnel will be able to dissuade the impetuous owner from going down the path that could lead to Pedro in the Bronx.

Besides Martinez's lack of popularity in the Big Apple, the Yankees also must factor in that giving the veteran right-hander what he wants -- a lucrative multi-year contract -- would only bloat New York's already hefty payroll even more.

And at some point, even the deep-pocketed Steinbrenner must ask himself how many more mega-salaries his team can take on?

So if not the Yankees, what other teams might seek to put Martinez's name on a contract?

Well, I'm not certain what clubs might get involved in the bidding, especially if Martinez holds fast to wanting a multi-year deal, but Anaheim must be thought about as a possibility.

The Angels have an owner in Arte Moreno who isn't shy about spending big money.

The first Hispanic owner in major-league history, Moreno's impact has been felt in attracting Spanish-speaking players to the Angels.

But maybe the most interested parties would be National League teams with deep bullpens.

The Cardinals are the first club that comes to mind, although I don't think St. Louis management is inclined to go out and spend a lot of money on Martinez.

Martinez entered the major leagues with the Dodgers in 1992, and I think his returning to Los Angeles must be considered a possibility -- even if it is one that is somewhat remote.

Atlanta or San Francisco could take a run at Martinez, but it would be my bet the Braves and Giants would be unwilling to go beyond a two-year deal.

Change of leagues enticing
Martinez has spent seven years in the American League, after starting out in the National League.

Talented  pitchers such as Martinez, who have faced American League lineups with designated hitters, are going to have a good shot at faring better against National League lineups where the pitchers must bat or be pinch hit for.

That's just the reality of baseball now as the American League is offensively so much deeper than the National League.

If Martinez were to sign with a National League team, it could quite possibly be to his benefit.

Look at this past season when Roger Clemens, a career American Leaguer, came out of retirement, joined the Astros, and went on to win the National League Cy Young Award.

In my opinion, Martinez -- if he switched leagues -- could repeat Clemens' feat, and win the National League Cy Young Award next season.

If it's not broke...
I think it's realistic to look at this new contract as being the last one for Martinez as a major leaguer.

I don't know that he will have a lot of options, but remaining with the Red Sox is clearly one of those options.

Martinez has said that his heart is with Boston, and that if the Red Sox didn't re-sign him, it would probably be because they didn’t try hard enough. 

Well, if Martinez were to weigh all factors -- and not drive any decision he makes solely on terms of money -- he might well figure out that he won't find a better place to be than in Boston.

And he and the Red Sox might come to the same conclusion: that they are right for each other.

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