PHILADELPHIA — Well, this could ratchet up that Phillies-Mets rivalry.

Although both sides shot down a report out of the Dominican Republic that said a deal had been reached, the Phillies and Pedro Martinez are involved in serious negotiations that could land the future Hall of Famer with the club by the time they travel to Florida to open their post-All-Star break schedule next Thursday.

Fernando Cuza, who represents Martinez, said that he and the Phillies are in the midst of talks, and that his client is "pretty close" to deciding where he will resume his storied career.

"There is interest on both sides, I can tell you that," Cuza told the Philadelphia Daily News on Thursday afternoon.

—Combined staff and wire reports