Martinez completes move to Mets

Martinez helped the Red Sox win the World Series

Pitching ace Pedro Martinez has rejected a new deal with Boston in order to join the New York Mets.

The 33-year-old, who this year helped the Red Sox end their long wait for a World Series title, has passed a medical and signed a four-year contract worth $53m.

He was the subject of an intense bidding war for his services, and confirmed to a television station in his native Dominican Republic that the Mets had won the battle.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said: "We wish Pedro nothing but the best going forward both on and off the field.

"He pitched with every ounce of his being for the Red Sox over the course of 216 games."

The Red Sox responded by completing the signing 41-year-old free agent pitcher David Wells on a two-year contract.

"David Wells has proven to be one of the top left-handers in the game," said Epstein of the former San Diego player, who won a World Series title with the New York Yankees in 1998.

"He throws strikes and should give us quality innings, improving the depth of our starting rotation."

Martinez's move is the biggest of baseball's annual winter meetings - which ended with several top stars still without teams.

Richie Sexson has completed his move to Seattle by signing a four-year contract, while Carlos Delgado has held talks with the New York Yankees.

Catcher Mike Matheny's $10.5m three-year agreement with San Francisco was the biggest deal for a free agent.

Right-hander Todd Jones signed a $2.25m two-year contract with Anaheim and Todd Jones finalised a $1.1m one-year deal with Florida.

Anaheim also agreed a $5m one-year contract with pitcher Paul Byrd and traded Ramon Ortiz to Cincinnatt for Dustin Moseley in a swap of right-handers.

Elswhere, second baseman Jose Hernandez has completed his $1.8m one-year deal with Cleveland after passing a medical.

And Corey Koskie has finalised agreement on a $17m three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed Chicago White Sox outfielder Carlos Lee in exchange for three players.

Outfielder Scott Podsednik, pitcher Luis Vizcaino - and a third player yet to be named - will move in the opposite direction.

Lee, 28, batted .305 with 31 home runs and 99 RBI over 153 games last season.

In the last two years the right-handed hitter has hit 62 home runs and 212 runs.

The White Sox have also announced that they have released pitcher Dan Wright, who turned 37 on 14 December.

Wright was 0-4 with 8.15 ERA in four starts and had been sidelined for almost the whole of 2004 with injury.