Pedro Martinez Says He Has No Regrets

Unrepentant to the end of his five-game suspension for hitting Roberto Alomar of the Cleveland Indians with a pitch, Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez says he would do it again if the need arose.

“Do you want to ask me if I’d do it again, the answer is absolutely yes,” Martinez said Thursday, the last day of his suspension. “I would do it again and I would not regret it.”

Martinez was suspended by Frank Robinson, baseball’s vice president of field operations, for intentionally hitting Alomar during an April 30 game.

Early in the game, Martinez had thrown a pitch inside to the Indians’ Einar Diaz, who took exception. The Indians retaliated with Charles Nagy hitting Boston’s Jose Offerman. Martinez later hit Alomar.

“I’m proud and happy to be whatever my team needs me to be,” said Martinez, who will start tonight against the Baltimore Orioles.

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The Orioles must pay at least $350,000 in severance to former general manager Frank Wren, according to news reports. Commissioner Bud Selig ordered the Orioles to pay through binding arbitration, The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post reported. Wren was fired Oct. 6, less than a year after he took over as general manager. . . . Philadelphia first baseman Rico Brogna was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken left wrist. Former Angel first baseman Chris Pritchett was recalled from triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. . . . The Chicago Cubs put Mark Grace on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring and recalled first baseman Julio Zuleta to take his place. The team also designated pitcher Andrew Lorraine for assignment and called up Todd Van Poppel. . . . Deion Sanders received permission to leave the Cincinnati Reds’ triple-A Louisville farm club, temporarily ending the attempt to revive his baseball career. General Manager Jim Bowden said the club agreed to let Sanders return to his home in Dallas, where he’ll continue rehabilitating his right knee.