Pedro To Join The Dark Side?

*** Updated 7:22 PM July 13, 2009 ***

According to Adam Rubin - Surfing The Mets the Phillies have signed Pedro Martinez to be a starting pitcher.

It's being reported today by Todd Zolecki - MLB.com that Pedro Martinez, pending a physical will most likely join the hated Phillies as a starter.

Pedro, who had a miserable 2008 season, going 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA, is now 37 and looking to get back in to the pros. I guess he's not ready to relax under The Mango Tree Yet .  

I'm not too concerned about Pedro and the Phils. I do not believe Pedro has anything left in the tank. He might be able to give the Phillies a quality start or two, but nothing compared to the Pedro of years past, not to justify the reported asking price of $4M for the season. The Phillies have the third worst starting rotation ERA in the NL, which stands at 4.98, so they are looking for help wherever they can find it.

More disturbingly, the Phillies are rumored to be real interested and most likely aggressive in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. Halladay, considered to be among the top two or three pitchers in baseball would surely (don't call me Shirley) help any rotation.

As for Pedro, he is a great guy in the clubhouse when healthy, but that is a big "if." Pedro has been oft injured since 2006, and hasn't shown that dominance in years. More importantly, having witnessed Pedro pitch many times over his Mets career, it became apparent to me that over the last two seasons Pedro looked lost/intimidated on the mound. That was one thing about Petey; he might not have a good day on the mound, but he was never "lost" or "intimidated."