Pedro On The Shelf For At Least 8 Months

Pedro Martinez will be out for at least 8 months. Martinez' right rotator cuff is torn, the Mets announced yesterday - a crushing disclosure for the star pitcher and his team. Martinez is likely going to have surgery this week at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

The team did a test on Martinez' right shoulder, and the pitcher is having surgery rather than trying to rehab it. Catcher Paul Lo Duca said last night that, "I think a lot of guys here are surprised but not surprised just because we sort of knew there was probably something going on in there."

Martinez had been battling a strained right calf since mid-August, and an MRI on Thursday showed he also had a torn muscle tendon in his left leg that likely was going to keep him out for between four and six weeks.

The Mets still are paying Martinez $25.5 million over the next two years as part of his four-year, $53 million deal. Next year, Martinez is due $14M, though $4M of that can be deferred.