Pedro Martinez puts rivalry aside, expresses belief in Yankees

With a 33-22 record as of Wednesday, the New York Yankees are among the early season teams emerging as legitimate contenders. 

And while predictions that the Aaron Judge-led Yankees can make a run at a pennant aren't surprising, hearing confidence in New York from one particular national analyst stands out above the rest. 

During an appearance on ESPN's "First Take," Baseball Hall of Famer and noted Yankees rival Pedro Martinez expressed his belief in this year's Yankees team and why they will be different from the teams of the recent past who fell shy of their ultimate goal and standard for the franchise. 

Pedro Martinez is confident the Yankees will contend all season 

When asked if the Yankees can win the division and then make a run to the World Series, Martinez, answering as an unbiased analyst, responded with an emphatic "yes" and even asked a request of the fan base he knows as well as any other.  

"This is the only time I'm going to wish the spoiled fanbase that the Yankees have will just relax a little bit, let them play. Because they do have the talent, they have everything they need," said Martinez. 

Pedro Martinez feels the Yankees have yet to reach their potential 

But recognizing the Yankees sit 2.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East despite their strong play, Martinez feels part of why New York is in second place has been out of its control. 

"They are going to get healthier. That's what they need," he offered as to why the Yankees haven't come close to reaching their potential to this point.

"The Yankees are going to be fine. For the first time I can tell the fan base relax."@45PedroMartinez believes the Yankees have a chance to win the World Series ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/9a2hiiMgev

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 27, 2026

Martinez also gave the Yankees some advice to help them get over the hump in the postseason. 

"I think that if they learn what the Dodgers do when there's critical situations, which is to relax and let the game slow down a little bit, they're going to be fine," Martinez added.

Aaron Boone is facing pressure to end the Yankees' title drought 

Martinez better be right, or Aaron Boone's tenure as manager may finally come to an end, too. Coming off a second consecutive MVP season from Judge that resulted in losing in the AL divisional round, Boone knows the pressure he's under based on the clear directive for the most storied franchise in baseball history. 

Now in his ninth season at the helm, Boone has only three division titles and one World Series appearance, a loss to the Dodgers two years ago, to his credit, even though his Yankees teams have made the playoffs every season except one. 

Pedro Martinez was part of the last World Series the Yankees won 

However, barring a collapse, the Yankees will be in the race all summer and have another opportunity to capture the franchise's first World Series title since 2009, ironically when New York beat Martinez and the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Overall in his career, Martinez posted a 219-100 record with a 2.93 ERA, a 1.054 WHIP and 3,154 strikeouts. He won the Cy Young Award three times and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.