Red Sox Legend Pedro Martinez Believes AL East Rival Is ‘For Real’

Pedro Martinez likes what he sees from the Boston Red Sox’s primary competitor in the American League East.

Despite branding the American League’s highest run differential (+93), the Red Sox trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 4.5 games atop the division. The Blue Jays are already four wins shy of matching last year’s total (74), but Martinez doesn’t expect Toronto to fall off down the stretch.

During Tuesday’s TBS studio show, the former Boston ace likened Toronto’s surge to previous Red Sox teams that have made seismic year-to-year jumps. Boston won the 2013 World Series the year after finishing last in the AL East and jumped from worst to first in the division again in 2016.

“I have to believe,” Martinez said. “That brings back memories of some of the teams I saw in Boston. From last to first, from first to last. And some of those teams have the talent. It’s just that they never seem to be in sync. But this time is the only time I’ve seen the Toronto Blue Jays play together for such a long time — consistent baseball — and also in sync.”

Martinez credited the turnaround to Toronto locking down Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million extension in April. The Hall of Famer thinks that deal eliminated a potential clubhouse distraction.

“Now they don’t have uncertainties about who’s gonna go, who’s gonna be traded, what’s gonna happen,” he added. “We’re all here to win.”

Martinez, who played with Vladimir Guerrero Sr. on the Montreal Expos, also celebrated the 26-year-old first baseman on social media.

“Seeing the success he’s achieved and how he handles so much pressure at such a young age—carrying an entire organization—it feels like watching my own child grow up,” Martinez said of Guerrero Jr.

Martinez feels that everything is clicking in Toronto with Bo Bichette rebounding from a down 2024 and George Springer turning back the clock to deliver his best results in years. He sees the Blue Jays as a legitimate contender.

“The consistency that they’ve shown all year, and especially playing those good teams lately, tells me that the Toronto Blue Jays are for real.”