Red Sox hire Pedro Martinez as a special assistant to the GM

The Boston Red Sox officially announced on Thursday that they have signed Pedro Martinez. No, not like that.

While Boston could certainly use some more starting pitching, Pedro is retired from baseball. This time around, Martinez will be working at Fenway Park as a special assistant to GM Ben Cherington.

“I am thrilled to be returning to this organization and to the city I love,” Martinez said Thursday, via Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. “Ben Cherington’s meetings this week have been outstanding. It is an honor to be back with the Red Sox and help in any way I can. I am grateful to our leaders; I believe in them, and I thank them for allowing me to return to the field and help us win again. My heart will always live in Boston.”

Martinez was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball with the Red Sox from 1998-2004. He compiled a 117-37 record and an impressive 2.52 ERA during his seven-year career in Boston. Cherington said the team is happy to have him on staff as a talent evaluator and mentor to young players.

“We are very excited to have Pedro onboard with us and back in the Red Sox organization,” the GM said. “He was one of the game’s most dominant pitchers and without a doubt a beloved figure in Red Sox history. Similar to former teammate Jason Varitek, who joined the baseball operations staff in September, Pedro will be involved in several areas, including the evaluation, mentorship, and instruction of young players in spring training and throughout the season.”

The three-time Cy Young Award winner can certainly provide an extra pair of eyes for the Red Sox as they look to bounce back from two incredibly disappointing seasons. However, given what we recently learned about Boston’s brass in Terry Francona’s new book, you have to wonder if the Pedro hiring is a PR move as much as a baseball move. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that the folks on Yawkey Way care very much about public perception.