Martinez Wins Job With Braves

Dennis Martinez has been pitching in the major leagues since 1976. But he was as excited as a rookie Sunday when the Atlanta Braves confirmed that he won a job.

Martinez, who is only two victories behind Juan Marichal as the winningest Latin American pitcher in baseball history, was part of the 25-man roster announced by the Braves after their final exhibition game, a 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Turner Field in Atlanta.

“I had to show I was healthy and could get people out. I did that,” said Martinez, who pitched better than his 0-2 record and 5.00 earned-run average in spring training indicates. “Still, I was excited when I heard the news.”

Martinez began last season in Seattle’s rotation but was cut May 24 after going 1-5 with a 7.71 ERA. Troubled by elbow and knee troubles, he sat out the rest of the season, then pitched well enough in the Puerto Rico winter league to earn a tryout with the Braves as a non-roster player.

“We were not sure about Dennis,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox admitted. “The medical reports were not good. But he’s been the surprise of camp.”

Martinez will work as the Braves fifth starter until John Smoltz returns. Smoltz, who underwent elbow surgery in December, was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday and is scheduled to make at least two minor-league rehabilitation starts.

In all, four non-roster players made the Braves, including outfielder Curtis Pride, who is 95% deaf.

Pride signed with the Braves on Feb. 6, less than two weeks before the start of spring training. But he was promised a chance to make the team, then made the most of it by hitting .298 with three homers, 12 RBIs and three stolen bases.

The other non-roster players to make the team were reserve infielder Rafael Belliard, back for his eighth season with the Braves, and left-handed reliever Adam Butler.

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Roger Pavlik, an all-star for the Texas Rangers two years ago, will start the season in the bullpen.

Manager Johnny Oates picked Bobby Witt and Rick Helling for the final two spots in his rotation, leaving Pavlik as a long reliever.

John Burkett, Darren Oliver and Aaron Sele are the team’s top three starters. Helling was 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA this spring, limiting batters to a .172 average in 19 innings.

“There was no one reason,” Oates said of his decision. “I went by a gut feeling. [My decision] could change three weeks into the season.”

Also, pitcher Jose Guzman ended his comeback attempt, announcing his retirement.

Guzman, 34, was 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in six appearances this spring after signing a minor-league contract with the Rangers in January.

He had not pitched since 1994 due to shoulder problems. Guzman had not pitched since March 17, when he developed tendinitis in his pitching shoulder.

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The Cardinals and New York Mets traded pitchers, with right-hander starter Juan Acevedo going to St. Louis for left-hander Rigo Beltran.

Acevedo, 27, was 3-1 with a 3.59 ERA in two starts and 23 relief appearances last season, striking out 33 in 47 2/3 innings.

Beltran, 28, pitched in 35 games with St. Louis in 1997, going 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA.

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Lee Smith, baseball’s career saves leader, still hopes to catch on with another team.

“Right now, I know it’s tough with teams cutting back guys, not picking up guys,” said Smith, who on Friday refused Kansas City’s request that he go to the minors. “I thought I’d see if I could get with another ballclub before I made my decision on the triple-A thing. I ain’t weighing too close toward it, I know.”

Smith, who saved 478 games for eight teams in 18 years, was asked by Royal Manager Tony Muser to accept an assignment to triple-A Omaha. Kansas City wants to protect relievers Jim Pittsley and Brian Bevley, who are out of options.

“I don’t want to go down to triple-A for a month or so, hoping that Brian Bevil doesn’t throw strikes and stuff,” Smith said. “That’s kind of a weak act for somebody with 18 years in the big leagues to be waiting for somebody to screw up.”

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Hideki Irabu finally will pitch in San Diego, and his toughest opponents might be the students along Raggers Rail at San Diego State.

The Japanese right-hander will make his last spring start for the New York Yankees against San Diego State today. He’s sure to get jeered for his jilting of the Padres last year. But his outing, weather-permitting, could at least help salvage the Yankees’ first-ever appearance in San Diego.

Sunday’s exhibition between the Yankees and Padres was rained out, and the teams played only 6 1/2 innings Saturday night before the game was called due to rain and hail with the score tied, 6-6.

Today’s Yankee-Aztec game will be at 3,500-seat Tony Gwynn Stadium, where the seats are right on top of the action. The school will sell spots along Raggers Rail, a walkway that runs the length of right field. It’s a favorite spot for students to harass opposing outfielders and it’s only about 25 feet from the visitors’ bullpen where Irabu will warm up.

Irabu said through an interpreter that he wasn’t aware of Raggers Rail, but he seemed prepared for the reception he’ll get.

“Do you think I’ll be able to hear them all the way out on the mound?” Irabu said, jokingly. “I’m a little hard of hearing.”

The Padres obtained Irabu’s rights from the Chiba Lotte Marines in January 1997. But the right-hander refused to negotiate with San Diego, saying he had always wanted to be a Yankee. After the situation festered for three months, the Padres finally traded his rights along with three minor leaguers to the Yankees for $3 million and prospects Ruben Rivera and Rafael Medina.

“I think the fans here in San Diego had some expectations of me coming here and I definitely understand that,” Irabu said. “But it was just a situation where I couldn’t be convinced to come here. I was really happy that people wanted me to come here. I was very, very happy about that. I understand the fans’ feeling, definitely.”