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Say it ain`t so, Pedro

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez said he will consider retiring from baseball if his shoulder does not return to full strength. The 35 year old right handed pitcher has missed much of the second half of the season and did not play in any of his team`s playoffs series due to the injury. First it was an ailing hip. Then came the devastating news about a calf injury that will keep him out for a long time.

So far his recovery is going well, and according to schedule he is supposed to return to the mound on June. He "won`t put his hand on a ball" until at least March though, he said. Martinez is coming off the toughest season of his career. Besides the injuries, the pitcher, who made nearly $15 million last year finished only 9-8, with a 4.48 ERA.

"It`s getting better and progress is above all what is hoped for," Martinez told press on Friday from his Dominican Republic home. "To go back I have to recover." Besides a good chance to chase the title again with the New York Mets, Martinez has two more seasons left on his four year, $53 million contract. He is also two strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career.