Major League Baseball

Report: Martinez to announce retirement

Published Dec. 3, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez, who last played in the majors in 2009 with the Phillies, is planning to officially announce his retirement.

In an interview with MLB.com, the 40-year-old right-hander said while he still had an urge to play, he was enjoying his family life too much to make a comeback.

"I'm going to [officially announce it], I'm going to do it, but I want to throw a party, too," Martinez said.

"I wouldn't say I wouldn't [play again] in any situation, but I find it very difficult for me to come back," he added.

"Now I have tasted the normal life, life as a family member, being a family man, being a father. You know what? I like it, honestly. I do miss some of the things in baseball, but not all of it. I think right now my family's my priority."

An eight-time All-Star, Martinez had a career record of 219-100 with a 2.93 ERA in 18 seasons.

He played for the Dodgers, Expos, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies, winning the National League Cy Young Award with the Expos in 1997 and the American League honor in back-to-back seasons with the Red Sox, in 1999 and 2000.

Martinez also finished second for the Cy Young in 1998, with those four years, 1997-2000, marking one of the most dominant stretches as a starter in major league history, averaging a 19-6 record and 2.16 ERA per season.