Pedro Martinez warns MLB lockout could repeat 1994 pain
The Hall of Fame pitcher spoke Saturday in Boston, urging owners and players to settle before the current deal expires on December 1.
By Lina Lewis ·
Pedro Martinez stood before a crowd at the 10th annual gala for his foundation in Boston on Saturday to urge Major League Baseball to avert a work stoppage. The Hall of Fame pitcher said the sport is currently strong and that both sides must act to preserve that momentum for the fans.
"I feel for the fans, and I know when it's good, and it's good, baseball is good right now," Martinez told the Boston Herald. "So stop the crap around and get something done and don't lock out baseball for the fans."
Martinez’s frustration stems from his own experience during the 1994 strike. He was in his first season with the Montreal Expos when the stoppage began. The team held the best record in the majors at 74-40, but the season was canceled. That loss also delayed his eligibility for salary arbitration by one day, a timing issue that cost him significant earnings early in his career.
"I was one of the most punished players at that moment because I had talent, and I needed to wait until arbitration to make my money," Martinez recalled. "So I hope they don't mess it up and they don't mistreat the fans."
The current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1. Owners have proposed a salary cap, with their latest offer made on Tuesday to delay implementation until 2028. The players' union has consistently rejected any proposal involving a cap during these negotiations.
Martinez argued that the current situation lacks the justification present in 1994. "Back then, there was a need for other things to change, and they changed for the better. This time, there's no excuse," he said. He placed the responsibility squarely on both the players' association and the owners, stating that the fans do not deserve to be treated poorly.
Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, won the 2004 World Series with the Boston Red Sox before his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2015. He closed his remarks by asking the commissioner and the players' association to listen to those who have lived through a previous stoppage.
