PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told ESPN.com that the Phillies were "just exploring all possibilities" when they watched Pedro Martinez throw a simulated game in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday afternoon. But another source, who works for one club that has been monitoring Martinez, thinks the Phillies are more interested in the 37-year-old righthander than they're letting on.
The source said his understanding of the workout -- a late-afternoon simulated game against the Phillies' Dominican Summer League prospects -- was that Martinez was told "if he throws well, they'll do something."
The source, who is well-connected in the Dominican, says he was also led to believe the Phillies have let Martinez know what they were willing to pay him for the rest of this season and that that amount was likely to be less than the prorated $5 million contract, plus incentives, that he has been seeking.
"The decision to sign him depends on the front office, but as far as we are concerned, we saw a Pedro MartÃnez ready to help a team," Phillies scout Robinson Garcia told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas after the workout.
Phillies' GM special assistant Charley Kerfeld was also present at the workout. It's believed that no other clubs were present.
Phillies front-office officials declined to comment on Martinez's workout.
"I am surprised, I didn't think he would be in such good shape," Garcia told Rojas. "His fastball was good, between 88 and 91 miles, and all his breaking pitches were moving very well.
"Pedro won't have problems throwing his fastball at 93 miles per hour. He really had a great session with us," he said.
Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com.