BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Martinez Signs One-Year Contract

The Dodgers, needing no further persuasion after watching starting pitcher Ramon Martinez perform this season, signed their ace to a one-year contract for $3.925 million Tuesday, making him their third highest-paid player.

“I’m happy here, I’m comfortable here, and I don’t want to leave here,” Martinez said. “Hopefully, I’ll stay here a long time.”

Martinez, who earned $2,687,500 last season, is eligible for free agency after this season. Yet the Dodgers and agent Jim Bronner never had serious negotiations for a multi-year contract, and instead focused their attention on avoiding their May 25 arbitration hearing. Martinez filed for a club record $4.5 million, while the Dodgers countered with $3.35 million.

“This is a different climate; nobody knows what the system will be,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, explaining why a multi-year contract was not seriously broached. “But nobody involved wanted to see an arbitration hearing.”

Martinez has been dominant this season, 4-1 with a 1.97 earned-run average, and is tied for the league lead in victories. In fact, while he has four victories, the rest of the Dodger rotation started Tuesday’s game with only one victory.

*

One of the most unique statistics in baseball this season is that only two National League pitchers have struck out 10 or more batters in a game, and both are from the same family: Ramon Martinez and brother Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos.

Ramon struck out 11 on May 5 against the Colorado Rockies, and Pedro struck out 10 on May 3 against the New York Mets.

Their younger brother, Jesus, is pitching for double-A San Antonio. If he makes the major leagues, it will be only the third time that three brothers have pitched in the major leagues. They’ll join the Perez family [Pascual, Melido and Carlos] and the Clarkson family [Dad, John and Walter].

“It would a great honor,” Ramon Martinez said, “but it could drive my mom nuts. Already, she’s worried about the first time I pitch against Pedro. She doesn’t want to see it. She doesn’t know who she’d root for.”

*

Catcher Tom Prince, whose contract was purchased from triple-A Albuquerque, said he hasn’t witnessed any animosity on the team between those who became replacement players and those who didn’t.

“It never even entered my mind about crossing,” Prince said, “but I have no animosity toward those that did. It was a personal choice. Nothing was ever said.

“I was here before the strike occurred, before replacements, so I knew what those guys were fighting for. I don’t think these guys had to thank me for not playing [this spring].”