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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Baseball notebook: Phillies scout Martinez

Pedro Martinez may soon bolster Philadelphia’s rotation.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

Pedro Martinez said his agent is negotiating with the Philadelphia Phillies, trying to get the pitcher back into the major leagues.

Martinez said the Phillies have been scouting him in his native Dominican Republic.

“The Phillies saw me this past Tuesday in a simulated game and I felt very good with my fastball and all my pitches,” Martinez said Thursday.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. denied reports a deal was done, but confirmed the team’s interest in the three-time A.L. Cy Young Award winner.

“He has not been signed,” Amaro said before the N.L. East-leading Phillies played Cincinnati on Thursday night. “We’ve seen him pitch. He’s not in town.”

Martinez, 37, is reported to have worked three innings in a simulated game against a Phillies summer league team, with a fastball as high as 93 mph.

The eight-time All-Star said it was up to his agent and the defending World Series champion Phillies to wrap up contract details.

Martinez went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA for the New York Mets last year.

The Phillies have been hurt by injuries to their starting rotation.

Martinez is 214-99 with a 2.91 ERA in 17 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal, Boston and the Mets.

Henderson day set

Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson is getting his due from the Oakland Athletics.

The A’s will retire Henderson’s No. 24 jersey during a pregame ceremony Aug. 1, deemed “Rickey Henderson Day” by the club in tribute to the career leader in runs scored and stolen bases.

Henderson, 50, spent the majority of his 25 big league seasons with Oakland, which selected him in the fourth round of the 1976 amateur draft.

Henderson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 26.

Clearing the bases

Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino and Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge have been elected by fans to Tuesday’s All-Star game in voting exclusively on MLB.com and the individual club sites. … Florida activated right-hander reliever Kiko Calero from the 15-day disabled list. Calero, whose professional career began with the 1996 Spokane Indians, has been sidelined since June 17 with right shoulder inflammation.