Pedro Martinez: Cy Young Winner, Trade Bait

Now Pedro Martinez comes with the Cy Young seal of approval.

Martinez, put on the trade market by Montreal immediately after the season, boosted his stature Tuesday by easily beating Atlanta’s Greg Maddux and Denny Neagle to win the National League Cy Young Award.

Martinez, 17-8 with 305 strikeouts and a major-league best 1.90 earned-run average, will become the second Cy Young winner dealt in the off-season he won the award. David Cone was traded from Kansas City to Toronto after winning in 1994.

“What I really want is a team that’s going to be in contention and a team that’s going to be able to afford me,” Martinez said.

Montreal, once again looking to cut payroll, says it can’t afford Martinez, eligible for arbitration this winter and for free agency after the 1998 season.

“I’m more sad than mad at them,” Martinez said. “That’s their politics and that’s the way they do things.”

The New York Yankees and Mets have both said they’re interested in Martinez, as are the Cleveland Indians. Many other teams are thought to be in the bidding, which will intensify after the Nov. 18 expansion draft.

Martinez played with the Dodgers for two years, then was traded to Montreal after the 1993 season. His brother Ramon remains with the Dodgers and Pedro would like to play with him again some day.

“That’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” Pedro said. “I had the chance once and it was great.”

Martinez, 26, ended Atlanta’s streak of four NL Cy Young winners, receiving 25 of 28 first-place votes and 134 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America.