The Mets might just <a title=”The New York Times > Sports > Baseball > Mets Are on Verge of Signing Martinez as Boston Bows Out” href=”http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/14/sports/baseball/14pedro.html?ex=1260766800&en=9b7ddf9db7ea5666&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt”>a proper ace</a> for the first time in years:

The Mets were close to signing [Pedro] Martinez to a four-year contract for $56 million last night, according to a person involved in the negotiations. Omar Minaya, the Mets’ general manager, had been reluctant to guarantee a fourth year for Martinez, 33, but the Mets have been eager to add a marquee free agent, so they barreled ahead.

I just hope this doesn’t fit their early 1990s pattern of throwing huge sums of money at veteran superstars just as their careers begin to go downhill.