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A professional athlete leaves one team for a better offer with another team and the local scribes are SHOCKED, SHOCKED! Pedro has a limited shelf life - he's 33 now I believe - so he has to maximize his earnings NOW. In looking out for himself, he has to take the best offer. Never mind that the Mets have a snowball's chance in hell of winning next year.

"A professional athlete leaves one team for a better offer with another team and the local scribes are SHOCKED, SHOCKED!"

My sympathies are (sort of) with the writer. How many millions did Pedro already have before he signed this offer? How many millions does one need to live comfortably for the rest of one's life? Why isn't - say - a four year deal for a mere $20 million enough for a pitcher whose best years are almost certainly behind him? Couldn't he scrape by on $20 million, or $10 million, on top of the millions he's already earned?

A professional athlete leaves one team for a better offer with another team and the local scribes are SHOCKED, SHOCKED!

It's not just the *local* scribes, sportswriters from all over are calling this a VERY bad move for Pedro (as well as for the Mets, incidentally). Pedro, had he remained in Boston for just a touch less dough, would have been a god, revered for all time. All of that prima donna BS would be forever forgotten. It might be for the most part, but fans want a Barry Larkin, a Cal Ripken, someone who they don't feel is a hired gun. Be loyal to us - we'll be loyal to you.

And the "best offer" isn't necessarily the one for the most money. Cf. Alex Rodriguez to the Rangers, Giambi to the Yankees.

Pedro has seen better days. He is not dominant like he used to be and his durability has never been good. If he can skip every other scheduled start and come out after five innings, then he might do some good for the Mets. Otherwise, he will be just another overpriced flop, which will make him a perfect fit with the rest of the Mets.

"Never mind that the Mets have a snowball's chance in hell of winning next year."

As Letterman said, hey, he gets all this money AND October off. What a deal!

Pedro is a Diva and needs CONSTANT attention. Boston fans have always had a love/hate relationship with him. I don't know anyone who is really sad to see him go.

I can't wait to see Pedro face Yankees pitching during the annual subway series. I'm betting he gets a fastball in the ear his first at bat.

Pedro is one of the best pitchers the Red Sox have ever had. He's also a jerk because they have bent over backwards to please him and he feels like he's insulted. $90 million contract from the Sox...babying him...looking the other way when he's late or breaks the rules.

Actually, they had one set of rules for Pedro and one for the rest of the team. Kinda sounds like the Kennedys. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" Sure, you're a superb pitcher who also is a crybaby, spoiled brat, liar (his latest: "the Red Sox were in last place the year before I got here"), etc. Right, and he also said it God has destined him to sign with the Mets. I'm sure the $54 million had nothing to do with it. (When an athlete says "It's not about the money", trust me. It IS.)

Sure, he left for a better offer but the Red Sox offered him just what he asked for. Then he leaves for an even "better offer" and blames the Red Sox for "being late". Man of his word, that Pedro is.

The NY scribes are asking him "how do you feel about being called 'Pedro the Punk' here in NY?" and he responds by saying how negative things were in Boston. Hey, Pedro, cheer up. They'll never say a negative thing about you in New York. Lose a bunch of games and they'll still love you. (Just kidding.) Just wait, Pedro; you'll see that NY is no different from Boston. And if your pitching deteriorates even more, it'll be worse.

Just once I'd love to hear the following:
"Why did you sign with the (team)?"
"Because they offered me more money and pledged to kiss my ass even more than my old team did."