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Nov. 21 - While negotiations with Martinez reportedly have centered on deals paying anywhere between $25.5 and $40 million over two or three years, that's small potatoes.

According to the New York Times – citing a source close to Martinez – what the hurler really wants is a four-year, $60 million contract. Martinez wants a contract similar to what the Dodgers paid Kevin Brown in 1998 when Brown was 33. That's how old Martinez is.

That desire might be even too rich for the Yankees' blood. Martinez' agent Fernando Cuza was not available for comment. The Times reports the Yankees seem hesitant to pursue Martinez, as team owner George Steinbrenner has left negotiations to general manager Brian Cashman.

According to the Nov. 21 Boston Globe, the Red Sox have sweetened their offer to Martinez. With Martinez intent on securing the third guaranteed year, the Sox altered their proposal to make the total $40.5 million value of the deal more easily attainable.

The team initially offered Martinez $25.5 million over two years with a $13 million option for 2007 and $2 million in potential bonuses.

According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, pretty much everyone in the Yankees organization believes Martinez's meeting with owner George Steinbrenner on Nov. 16 was a mutual leverage ploy: Pedro trying to drive his price up and Steinbrenner trying to get the Diamondbacks to move on trading Randy Johnson. One baseball man said Martinez "gave a sales pitch," while Steinbrenner mostly "just listened."

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