Pedro Martinez Rejects Offers To Return To Majors

By RONALD BLUM,
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) Pedro Martinez plans to stay retired despite offers the past two weeks from several teams. The three-time Cy Young Award winner says he turned them down but was flattered by the invitations.

Martinez signed with Philadelphia in July 2009. He went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts down the stretch and helped the Phillies reach the World Series.

The 38-year-old right-hander tells The Associated Press on Thursday he was "really happy" to receive the latest offers and calls them "very tempting." He did not say which teams pursued him.

Martinez says he will be spending the rest of the year with his kids and going on vacations. He was in New York for a promotional event with Gillette.

Updated August 5, 2010
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