An Offer Is Made to Martinez; Now Waiting Begins

The Dodgers have offered free-agent pitcher Ramon Martinez a contract for this season, and the ballclub is now waiting for Martinez’s agents to consider other offers.

The club offered Martinez a performance-clause contract Tuesday, with relatively little money guaranteed, that could pay the right-hander as much as $6 million if he pitched the entire season. Martinez is in the Dominican Republic, rehabilitating after undergoing season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder in June. It is not clear when he will be ready to pitch.

The one-year proposal includes a tiered schedule of bonuses that Martinez could earn by reaching goals for appearances, innings pitched and victories.

Calls to Jim Bronner, Martinez’s lead agent, were not returned.

General Manager Kevin Malone declined to discuss specifics of the package, but acknowledged an offer had been made.

“We’ve been talking for a while, and we recently made a formal offer because we want to do everything we can to keep Ramon with the Dodgers,” Malone said. “We’re reaching out to Ramon because he has been an important part of the Dodgers’ past, and we want him to be part of our future.

“We believe our medical staff can really help Ramon rehabilitate. We want to get Ramon signed, and get him in here to continue his rehabilitation.”

The club declined to exercise Martinez’s $5.6-million option for this season, buying out the contract for $600,000 and making the two-time all-star a free agent. Team physician Frank Jobe performed the surgery to repair a tear on Martinez’s right rotator cuff.

Martinez has spent his entire 10-year career with the Dodgers, going 123-77 and leading the team in victories four times in the last eight seasons. He had previously said he hoped to return to the club, but he may be able to get a guaranteed deal elsewhere.

“[Martinez’s agents] told us they were appreciative of our offer but that they had to look at some other options, which we understand,” Malone said. “ . . . We’re willing to compensate Ramon fairly, we’re willing to assume some of the risk, but we feel this has to be a fair process for everyone involved.”

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Right-hander Randy Galvez must undergo reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow after an MRI exam revealed a torn ligament. Galvez, in his fourth year in the organization, went 13-4 with a 3.60 earned-run average while pitching in the Mexican League last season.

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A Cleveland Indian official said that it is unlikely the team would be interested in Dodger pitcher Dave Mlicki, explaining that the Indians’ hope is to acquire a pitcher the caliber of David Wells or Curt Schilling to ease the pressure on young Bartolo Colon and Jaret Wright.

“I suppose that might change late in the spring if we’re unable to get a Wells or Schilling and we need a fourth or fifth starter, depending on how Doc [Gooden] is,” he said. “I just don’t see it right now.”

There has also been speculation that the Dodgers would be interested if Cleveland wanted to trade shortstop Omar Vizquel, who has been unhappy with his $3-million contract, compared with Roberto Alomar’s more recent $8-million deal.

But the official said, “I don’t think Omar is going anywhere. [General Manager] John Hart believes a contract is a contract, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the owner [Richard Jacobs] signed Omar to a personal services-type deal.”

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Staff writer Ross Newhan contributed to this story.