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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 22: Fans hold up a welcome back sign for Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on May 22, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
There’s never any love lost between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in Major League Baseball, and Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez knows that better than anyone. Martinez is a Red Sox franchise icon. He pitched in Boston for seven seasons and won four ERA titles in the process, in perhaps the most dominant stage of his career.
Recently, as Pedro Martinez continues his post-playing career in the world of Sports Media, he joined ESPN’s premier talk show ‘First Take’ with Stephen A. Smith to discuss the Yankees and their aspirations this season.
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Pedro Martinez Shares Message to Yankees Fans
GettyBOSTON, MA – JULY 28: Pedro Martinez, a former member of the Boston Red Sox, waves as he is being introduced during a ceremony to retire Martinez’s number 45, before a game with the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park on July 28, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
On his appearance on First Take, Martinez had this to say about the Yankees:
“The Yankees are going to be fine. For the first time I can tell the fan base relax.”
Pedro calls the Yankees fan base ‘spoiled’, but then answers ‘I do’ to the question of if he thinks the New York Yankees have what it takes to win a World Series.
“They do have the talent. They have everything they need, and they are going to get healthier. I think that if they learn what the Dodgers do in critical situations, like relax a little bit, they’re going to be fine. There’s no way you can think the Yankees aren’t going to make the playoffs.”
Martinez also thinks the Yankees will ‘give it a go’ at the MLB trade deadline.
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New York Yankees Right Now…
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 01: Aaron Judge #99 and Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrate after Ben Rice hit a three run home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on May 01, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
After their 15-1 victory over the Royals on Tuesday, the Yankees have won three games in a row and sit just 2.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. New York is 5-5 in its last 10 games, but has excelled in 26 games at home (17-9 record).
After taking on the Royals, the Yankees will stay on the road for a three-game set with the Athletics.
Pedro Martinez makes some good points. With so much star power like Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Max Fried, and many other capable players, New York could be poised for a deep playoff run this October.
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TJ French covers the MLB for Heavy. TJ is a graduate of the University of Georgia. He has 2+ years of writing experience. Follow TJ French on X: @tj_french5 More about TJ French