Via Laurel Scheffel of Newsday:

Pedro Martinez is pushing the idea that he needs just one more rehab start before joining the Mets.

His pitching lines in his first two rehabilitation starts wouldn’t indicate he is ready, but after pitching four innings yesterday with the rookie Gulf Coast League Mets, Martinez is growing anxious to make his return to the big leagues.

“I need to pitch in the big leagues,” Martinez said. “I feel like my pitches are improving, but I can’t tell you how good I am until I get a big-league hitter out. I am already pushing the issue, but it’s going to take me a little while still.”

Pedro got knocked around in his 4th and final inning of work yesterday, allowing three runs on three hits, culminating with a 3-run homer to minor leaguer Pedro Baez. However prior to the fourth the convalescing ace had thrown three perfect innings, mowing down the order on just 31 pitches, and admitted that his concentration level may have wavered in the fourth. …

New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum announced at a press conference last night that the Jets and first-round pick Darrelle Revis are very close to an agreement.

Via Randy Lange of the New York Jets, Tannenbaum appeared on SNY for a remote interview in front of the 6-foot-by-10-foot Jets logo on the wall of the second floor of the Jets training complex and told host Brian Custer:

“I’d say we’re very close. A couple of issues need to be resolved. We’ve worked very hard to try to find a solution that works for both sides. We’re very close and we’re going to try to see this thing through.”

The significance of signing Revis this week is the assumption that he could then play in two pre-season games. My guess is that no matter how well he plays before the opening game, Eric Mangini will not start him or give him significant minutes ~ if for no other reason than to set the tone that he is not happy with his holdout and the amount of …