DENVER—Pedro Martinez threw a simulated game Tuesday at the New York Mets’ complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Martinez threw 50 pitches in three innings of work.
“It is a step in the right direction,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “The schedule for the next move is pending.”
Assistant GM John Ricco said the team wants the three-time Cy Young Award winner to rest and see how he feels.
“The plan all along was to stop at this point, giving him a week to 10 days off,” Ricco said. “It gives him a chance to recharge and rest his body after nine months of extremely hard physical work.”
Ricco said the team will see how the 35-year-old right-hander responds to this outing before deciding whether Martinez will go on a minor league assignment.
“We’ll figure out in the next few days,” Ricco said.
Martinez had rotator cuff surgery last fall. He went 9-8 with a 4.48 ERA last year as the Mets won the NL East for the first time since 1988.
On June 26 Martinez threw to hitters for the first time since the surgery. The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 45 pitches to minor leaguers and said he felt good afterward.
“It’s amazing what he’s done,” Ricco said. “He’s made every milestone up to this point.”
