New York Mets ace Pedro Martinez took another step Saturday in rehabilitating his sore toe, throwing from a slope about a foot in front of the pitcher’s mound.

Martinez threw 32 pitches in Port St. Lucie, Fla., although without his usual speed and power. Twice he took breaks for trainer Ray Ramirez to work on his customized right shoe, which cracked where a cleat had been moved to relieve pressure on the toe.

It was the first time Martinez had stepped on a mound since September.

The right shoe Martinez used Saturday has a cleat moved farther down than normal to help him experience less pain during the pitching motion. Martinez also wore a pair of gel pads to protect his toe.

He feels confident his toe will not delay his start with the Mets this year.

“I believe I’m going to be there opening day unless something goes wrong,” he said.

He said he was able to push off his right leg again in ways he wasn’t last fall.

“I can’t compare it right now to the way it was toward the end of the season because toward the end of the season, I couldn’t really push,” he said. “I couldn’t really get on that leg that much, but now, it feels a lot better. So now, I’m probably 70 percent better than I was during the offseason.”

In Tampa, Fla., New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said he hadn’t ruled out pitching after his current contract expires.

The 36-year-old Rivera is in the final season of a $21 million, two-year extension. He has a $10.5 million option for 2007 that likely will become guaranteed if he stays healthy.

“We’ll see what happens,” Rivera said. “Hopefully this year I’ll do a good job. I don’t want to go ahead.”

The Yankees have taken a slow approach in spring training the past few years with Rivera. He has thrown off a bullpen mound three times this spring.

“I haven’t pitched, like BP or things like that, but I’m OK with where I’m at right now,” Rivera said. “Yes, I am.”

Rivera is fifth on the career saves list with 379, trailing only Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (436), John Franco (424) and Dennis Eckersley (390). He isn’t thinking yet about the possibility of becoming the career leader.

“I think as I start getting a few more saves,” Rivera said. “Get to 400 first.”

In Phoenix, Oakland newcomer Milton Bradley broke his six-day silence Saturday and kept his first spring-training interview non-controversial. Five reporters were told by the A’s public relations department to keep all questions restricted to baseball. Bradley went one step further, saying he would talk only about his experience with the A’s.

Bradley declined to be interviewed when he reported early to camp Sunday, saying, “I really don’t want to deal with the media this spring.”

Bradley signed every autograph request Saturday and had his photo taken posing with fans and their children.

“Are you glad you’re out of L.A.?” one reporter asked once the interview began.

“Next question,” Bradley replied.

Also, Milwaukee extended manager Ned Yost’s contract through 2008, rewarding him for the Brewers’ first non-losing season since 1992. The Brewers finished 81-81 in 2005, Yost’s third season with the club. His contract includes a club option for 2009.