"With his history, and I've had firsthand experience facing him so many times, he's a tough competitor," Torre said. "He was the best in this game at one time. Just from what little I've seen of him, he may not have the velocity he once had, but he certainly has the know-how and the ability to keep the hitter off balance."
The three-time Cy Young Award winner broke in with the Dodgers in 1992 and was traded to Montreal for Delino DeShields a year later.
Injuries have limited Martinez over the past three seasons with the New York Mets.
In another matter, Manny Ramirez' spring-training debut was pushed back at least 1 more day.
The Dodgers' slugger was scratched from yesterday's exhibition game against South Korea because of tightness in his left hamstring.
Torre said he expects to use Ramirez as his designated hitter against Texas today.
Ramirez said he felt the hamstring tighten up as he ran from second base to home during a drill before batting practice yesterday morning.
Noteworthy
* A woman has filed a complaint against former Yankees centerfielder Bernie Williams in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for allegedly hitting her at a nightclub while she took his picture.
Police said the woman claimed Williams snatched the camera, damaged it and hit her in the face. The incident allegedly happened around 2:30 a.m. yesterday at a San Juan nightclub, hours after the Puerto Rican team beat the Netherlands, 5-0, in the World Baseball Classic. Williams is playing for Puerto Rico.
* Former New York Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos has been convicted of throwing his girlfriend against a wall and punching her in a motel. A jury in New York convicted the Burgos, 24, of assaulting the woman in September. He faces up to a year in jail when he is sentenced April 3. The Mets released Burgos in December.
* The closer-needy Seattle Mariners have signed veteran righthander Chad Cordero, 26, to a minor league contact and invited him to the final weeks of their spring-training camp. He has been out since May with a shoulder injury suffered while with Washington.
* Tampa Bay outfielder Fernando Perez will be out for at least 3 months after dislocating his left wrist diving for a sinking line drive in Tuesday's spring-training game against the Blue Jays.
* Craig Monroe homered three times against his former team, powering Pittsburgh to a 6-4 victory over Minnesota in Bradenton, Fla. Monroe leads the Pirates with six home runs. He's gone deep in three straight games.
* Carlos Zambrano was selected to make his fifth straight Opening Day start for the Chicago Cubs. *
