Sports briefs for November 3, 2004

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004 | 10:41 a.m.

Martinez enters list of free agents

Pedro Martinez filed for free agency Tuesday for the first time in his career, positioning himself to sell his services on the open market if the Boston Red Sox are unable to sign him before their exclusive negotiating rights expire Nov. 11. After helping Boston win the World Series in the final season of his seven-year, $90 million contract, Martinez, 33, said he would welcome remaining in Boston if the price were right, but he plans to test the market.

The highest-paid pitcher in baseball history last season at $17.5 million, Martinez expects a cut in his salary but is unlikely to agree to a contract that guarantees fewer than three years. Even if the Red Sox offer him $39 million over three years, a deal similar to Curt Schilling's, Martinez is likely to weigh competing proposals.

"I'm only doing what I have to do," Martinez said after Game 3 of the World Series. "They're going to have their chances to get me back in that uniform, and if they don't get me, it's probably because they didn't try hard enough."

Martinez would be the top starting pitcher on the market and could attract strong interest from numerous teams in both leagues, including the Yankees. He has said he would welcome a return to the National League if he is unable to reach agreement with the Red Sox. (list on page 8D.)

Paris bid gets boost

The French government today signed financial guarantees for $3.2 billion in the bid to bring the 2012 Olympic Games to Paris. The funding will be earmarked for building an Olympic athletes' village and several new sports venues in and around Paris, as well as for security.

Rebels saluted

UNLV women's coach Dan Abdalla was named Mountain West Conference coach of the year and senior midfielder Annii Magliulo the conference's offensive player of the year.