Dominican Major League pitcher Pedro Martínez, winner of this year’s Cy Young award, said on a radio program recording that he had reached an agreement with the Boston Red Sox that guarantees him the payment of US$75 million for a six year contract. The contract also gives the Boston Red Sox first option on his services for the seventh and eight year, which would guarantee the pitcher an additional US$17 million, for a total of US$92 million for a eight year agreement. If the Red Sox do not exercise this option, they agree to compensate Martínez with an additional US$2.5 million, which brings the agreed upon total to US$77.5 million. Martínez earned US$3.6 million last season with the Expos.The contract makes him the best paid player in the United States’ Major Leagues of baseball. To this date, the best paid players are Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves, who has a six year contract for US$60 million. Martínez, playing with the Montreal Expos, ended the past season with 17-9 and a Major League-low 1.90 earned run average. He struck out 305 batters and was the first pitcher since Steve Carlton of the 1972 Phillies to fan 300 in a season while recording an ERA below 2.00. Martínez also led the Majors with 132 complete games.Last night he dined with President Leonel Fernández and donated 300 computers to the President’s computers-in-public-schools program.Interviewed for the Radio Universal radio talk show from his brother, Ramón’s house after the dinner with the President, Pedro Martínez said, "I feel real good, very happy." He had just received a call from Boston confirming the terms of the contract. "I come from poverty and want to thank God for having given me the opportunity to make all this money, independently of what I win for doing what I want to do, which is to play baseball," said Martínez. Martínez says that he wants to feel all the emotions that coming with participating in a Major League playoff. He said that he has not changed up to now and sees no reason to change now. "I will continue being the same simple person that I have been, helping other people,". He said he will still be the boy who lived in the wooden house in Manoguayabo, that the tilted whenever there were strong winds. Martínez was first signed by the Dodgers of Los Angeles in 1988, and pitched with the Dodgers in the Major Leagues in 1992. In 1993 he was traded to the Expos where he became one of the leading pitchers as of 1994. Martínez left this morning from Santo Domingo to Boston to sign the new contract.
