This feature originally ran in The Standard-Times on Dec. 14, 2004.

By Nick Tavares

The Pedro Martinez era is all but over. It was announced yesterday through various news sources that Martinez will accept a four-year contract worth $56 million from the New York Mets, ending a seven-year stint in Boston that saw the dominating right-hander win 117 games, including Game — of their first world championship in 86 years.

fans had mixed feelings about the deal and Pedro's departure.

"I wanted him to stay," said Mike Pimental, 27, a Red Sox fan from New Bedford. "I always wanted to see him finish out his career in a Red Sox uniform. Is he as good as he was three or four years ago? Probably not. But he's still good for 16 or 17 wins a year, and it's not easy to replace that."

"I think it's a bad idea all around," said Josh Mello, 17, of Dartmouth. "The Sox needed another pitcher, and there wasn't anyone better than Pedro out there right now, and it's a bad idea for the Mets, too. They're overpaying him."

Jim, 49, of Paul's Sports Corner in Fairhaven, a Yankees fan who didn't want his full name used, said he was happy to see Martinez sign with the Mets.

"I'll tell you one thing, I'm glad he's not in Boston anymore, and I'm glad the Yankees didn't sign him," said Jim. "When you're 33 and on the downside of your career, I guess you have to go for the money, and the Mets wanted to give it to him.

"But I know I didn't want him on the Yankees, so I'm pretty happy with how this turned out."

The Mets' potential signing leaves Boston with a major hole in its rotation, with few options left in the free agency market. Chicago pitcher Matt Clement has been discussed, as have trades for Los Angeles' Odalis Perez or Oakland's Tim Hudson, and while none would command the amount of money that Martinez has, none have his pedigree, either.

"It's hard to see him making that kind of money," said Mr. Pimental. "I mean, I always liked him, even with all of his quirky incidents on and off the field. He was a great pitcher and probably still is, but is he worth all that? Maybe not.

"But he was one of the main reasons that they did make the playoffs and win the World Series, and that's gone."

The departure of Martinez also has some fans echoing the fate of another exiled Red Sox ace.

"In the end, you know, this could end up being another Clemens situation," said Mr. Mello.

Roger Clemens left Boston after the 1996 season and went on to win four more Cy Young awards after then-general manager Dan Duquette proclaimed the Rocket to be in "the twilight of his career."

With all the ups and downs of Pedro's career in Boston, there is still a contingent of fans who aren't shedding any tears over his exit to New York.

"I think it was a good deal," said Todd Rebello, 16, of Dartmouth. "I'm a Red Sox fan, and I'm glad he's gone. He wanted too much money and he's going to go downhill for the rest of his career.

"He was a great pitcher, but he won't be any more."

Pedro will also join another former Boston icon in the National League -- Nomar Garciaparra. Garciaparra left under much different circumstances, at the trading deadline for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz, but the departure of the two Sox stars marks the end of an era for Beantown baseball.

"When Nomar left, we got help back that wound up helping us win the World Series," said Mr. Pimental. "With Pedro leaving, all they've done to replace him is sign David Wells, and I don't think that it's enough to get them back to the World Series. They might even have trouble reaching the playoffs now."

"You know, I'm amazed at how some of the fans turned on Nomar," said Jim of Fairhaven. "Here's a guy who was their best player for years, gets traded, and so many people wound up hating him. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens to Pedro now."

There was one aspect of the deal, though, that was universal among fans — Pedro's gone, and the Red Sox will never be the same.

Contact Nick Tavares at ntavares@s-t.com.

This story appeared on Page A1 of The Standard-Times on December 14, 2004.