TORONTO -- Now that Boston has exercised its $17.5 million option for 2004, Pedro Martinez would like to stay with the Red Sox.

	Martinez

"I'm looking forward to finishing my career in Boston," Martinez said Tuesday. "Hopefully, this will be a sign of me remaining with the Boston Red Sox. I wasn't very optimistic about it. By showing the compromise of picking up my option they are actually saying 'Yes we can work something out.'"

The Red Sox exercised the option seven months before the deadline. Martinez had wanted a five-year extension, and the sides put aside talks on a new deal.

"We just didn't agree on the average salary a year," Martinez said.

The 31-year-old right-hander said he was willing to take less money if the Red Sox had signed him to a multiyear contract now. That offer, he added, won't be made when negotiations resume after the season.

"I sacrificed a lot to remain in Boston," Martinez said. "If I bring out the numbers, you'll be shocked, but we decided to keep it private and we are going to stick to our word. They already picked up my option, which tells me that they are trying, so I'm just going to let it go. But the same offer is not going to be there in November."

Martinez said he asked for less money than teammate Manny Ramirez, starting the third season of a $160 million, eight-year deal.

"What I wanted from Boston was way, way below Manny status," Martinez said. "I don't know about November. That's different."

The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 0-0 with a 0.60 ERA this season after two stellar starts that were squandered by the bullpen. He is second in the AL with 14 strikeouts.

Martinez was 20-4 and led the AL with a 2.26 ERA last season while staying off the disabled list for the first time in four seasons.