The Boston Red Sox are bringing back pitcher Pedro Martinez, but he won't be stepping on the mound for the AL East team. The Red Sox announced Thursday that the former all-star hurler will return to the organization to serve as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington.

Former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, who caught many of Martinez's most dominant performances, joined the team's baseball operations staff in September. Cherington said both Martinez and Variek will evaluate, mentor and instruct the organization's young players in spring training and throughout the regular season.

Martinez, who won two of his three career Cy Young awards with Boston from 1998 through 2004, was a member of the Red Sox team that won the 2004 World Series and broke the franchise's 86-year championship drought. He was 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA in his seven seasons in New England.

Martinez signed a free agent deal with the New York Mets after the 2004 season. He finished his career in Philadelphia, losing Game 6 of the 2009 World Series to the New York Yankees.

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