Pay-dro

“Pay-dro” was the headline in the Post yesterday after the Mets signed ex-Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez. And were it not for this charming article, the news of Randy Johnson’s apparently imminent trade to the Yankees surely would have overshadowed the Mets’ big week.

In the Sports Illustrated/CNN piece, Pedro wastes no time slamming Red Sox management. I’m sure the Mets are psyched to have this come out. (What’s the truism about running off with someone who was cheating on his or her partner in order to be with you — don’t be surprised when he or she then cheats on you? Can we predict that Pay-dro will be a pain in the ass?)

The best Pay-dro moment comes when he urges the Mets to sign free agent Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, effectively dissing Mike Piazza in the process:

Asked what other free agents he thought Boston would sign, Martinez said “they’ll be stupid not to do Varitek. Varitek is the next one gone. [General Manager Theo Epstein] is going to have the biggest problem with him.”

Epstein has said signing Varitek is one of his offseason priorities. The catcher is reportedly seeking a five-year contract worth more than $50 million, with a no-trade clause.

“I hope he is gone,” Martinez said of Varitek. “I hope ‘Tek is on my team.”

Asked whether that meant he wanted to get rid of current Mets catcher Mike Piazza, Martinez said, “I do want Piazza, too. Piazza is a good hitter. We can move him to first or somewhere. … I want ‘Tek. ‘Tek is a good player, a good catcher.”

Nice move, Pay-dro!