RELATED: Watch Jeff Skversky's interview with Pedro Martinez
Late Monday night, Martinez arrived at Philadelphia International Airport where he told Action News sports reporter Jeff Skversky that he would need to spend a few weeks in the minor leagues if the Phils sign him.
"I have too much respect for the game and too much respect for the fans to actually report there out of shape, " Martinez said.
Then he hedged his bets about whether he would sign with the Phils.
"I really want to bring something to the Phillies or to whoever I go, but it's gonna take a little bit longer. I haven't really pitched that much in the last month or so."
He added that a big priority for him is to go to a contender, which makes him very interested in the Phils.
He said the Phillies don't need much to put them in the World Series again.
Martinez explained his poor season last year with the Mets as the result of surgery and the death of his father.
Phils General Manager Ruben Amaro Junior, watched the 37-year-old pitch in a simulated game in the Dominican Republic last week. Martinez reportedly threw a fastball that clocked between 88 and 91 miles an hour and had a lot of movement on his breaking pitches.
Martinez was one of the best pitchers in baseball when he played for the Boston Red Sox, but he then spent four disappointing, injury-plagued years with the New York Mets.
The Phillies have intensified their search for starting pitching after starter Brett Myers was lost for the season with a hip injury.
Get Action News on your website
