The Mets released lefty Oliver Perez, the team officially announced today. The move comes three days after the release of second baseman Luis Castillo, as the team's new regime bailed on Omar Minaya's two worst contracts with one year remaining. The Mets still owe Perez $12MM for 2011.
Perez, 29, re-signed with the Mets on a three-year, $36MM deal in February of 2009. The contract was fairly well-received in the media at the time. The signing quickly became unpopular, with the southpaw posting the two worst seasons of his career. The numbers: a 6.81 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 8.0 BB/9, and 1.7 HR/9 over 112 1/3 innings. New GM Sandy Alderson allowed Perez a chance to make the 2011 club as a reliever, but he allowed 13 hits and nine runs in 9 2/3 spring innings.
The Phillies signed Castillo yesterday and appear to have big league playing time for him. It'll be a much longer road back for Perez. The Mets ate $18MM to make the pair go away, minus the Major League minimum if they play in the Majors. The cuts should be popular with fans, and hopefully the team can generate a few positive storylines heading into the 2011 season.
Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal first tweeted the news of Perez's release.
John C
What took so long?
East Coast Bias
two years too late
Infield Fly
All I can think of is “ding dong the pitcher’s dead…”
Maybe he’s not really dead but he’s dead to us!!
studio179
Suddenly, those Mets fans walk with a spring in their step…the food taste better…the air smells cleaner…
Martin M.
it was a long time coming
Babawhitesox
Wow, first Castillo and now this? I wish more GMs did this with guys who aren’t worth anything. Jim Hendry should see this and release Carlos Silva
Tko11
Silva wasnt THAT bad last year.
sourbob
Silva was worth 2.1 WAR last year. Perez hasn’t been worth that much since 2007.
Not really comparable.
The_Silver_Stacker
Congrats Mets fans
tigers22
Big gulps, huh?
Well…see ya later.
notsureifsrs
some people just aren’t cut out for a life on the mound
TartanElk
Some people just aren’t cut out for big gulps.
iheartyourfart
meet jason bay in the stall at 2 am sharp for manly love
Eric B
wanna cruise by on my mini bike as Olly is leavin the club house, “… Olly, I desperately wanna make love to a school boy.”
FrankFranciscoSaysTakeASeat
The Mets should give Perez a briefcase full of IOUs for the 12 mil. That’s as good as money, sir. Go ahead and add it up. Every cent’s accounted for.
notsureifsrs
Oliver: So, where you headin’?
Luis: Philadelphia
Oliver: Mmm, California. Beautiful.
Lunchbox45
Look, see this? That’s a car. 275 thou. Might wanna hang onto that one.
Eric B
Don’t deny it, Olly. Fraida told me the whole sleazy story, Mr. French Tickler! I guess we both learned a little something about each other today.
Eric B
maa haaa haaannn you are one pathetic loser!!! no offense
Mr. Furious
I guess they couldn’t package him with Jason Bay to get Brian Giles.
John_Ginder
I just don’t understand what happened to him.
ryanfea
He was never really that good to begin with.
dc21892
Where do we begin?
fivepoint0
Birth.
ARod's Ring
“the shocker” of the year! that the Mets did WHAT?!
pete a
the los mets era is almost over….
SRT
???
Yeah, because signing and releasing Perez was all about race.
I noticed you’re a Yankee fan. Maybe that explains this comment.
Tko11
No but signing him may have been.
The_Silver_Stacker
You just made a generalization in relpy to a generalization
SRT
Yeah, except one is a stereotype (or generalization, as you put it) and the othe other is playing the race card. Big difference.
But whatever.
Lunchbox45
we accept your apology
SRT
LOL….so it’s perfectly O.K. to pull out the race card but not make a comment on stereotyping a fan base?
Priorities.
TapDancingTeddy
I hate all that “los Mets” stuff. But to be fair to “pete a,” it’s usually Met fans who bring it up and rant about it.
I don’t care what ethnicity player is on my team. I’m guessing most sports fans are the same.
Michael Brown
Priority 1: Read more.
Priority 2: Become a better typist.
Priority 3: Think before you speak(type in this case)
Priority 4: Root for a better team.
*Priority 4 is completely optional, but doing so increases respect ten-fold.
Mario Saavedra
Omar Minaya was all about Latino players, everybody knows that.
mr mojo risin
come on, you know Joba loves him some Taco Bell …
MetsEventually
Now for our next scapegoat…
j6takish
Trading Jeff Franceour didn’t immediately make the Mets a contender. I demand results!
Paul
I mean they are going to bring Minaya back in some capacity…
Moebarguy
Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, Jason Bay, and/or Francisco Rodriguez.
formerdraftpick 2
I still don’t understand how Perez lost so much velocity in his pitches over such a short period of time. He doesn’t look out of shape. The whole thing is definitely mental. So the next stage, who do you think he’ll get picked up by? Most likely he’ll have a minor league contract within the next few weeks. Probably not back to the Pirates… Blue Jays? Astros?
Tko11
Itd be funny if the Phillies gave him a minor league contract.
nm344
Phillies are really short in starting pitching…
jasonk
If by “funny” you mean “tragic,” then yes, it would be funny.
Tko11
The Mets being my 2nd favorite team, it would be straight funny for me. Even funnier if Blanton got injured and Perez was called up and then Wright hits a homerun off of him. Ahh I can only imagine, itd be the only bright spot for the Mets this season.
nm344
At least you only picked Blanton to be the one to get hurt… A kinder, gentler Mets fan.
MetsFanXXIII
I don’t think losing 7 mph on your fastball is completely mental.
andthebaker
I think he’ll retire. Why would he accept a minor league contract when last year he rejected a minor league assignment? I think last year he was thinking, “just frickin cut me already.” He doesn’t have anything left and he knows it.
run
if he retires he doesnt get paid. he can sit the year as a FA, or sign a minor league deal.
but your right he has nothing left. and is a loser.
jdub220
That would be the case if he retired before he was released. If he retires now the Mets will still have to pay him.
aeqr
Ooooooouuu when the saaaaaaiiintsss, gooo marching in, oooooohhh when the saaaaiiiintsss gooo marching in, you gotta praise our lord and savior, because Ollie is finally out of the team!
bjhaas1977
He’s velocity may be down because he was on PEDs before his big contract. He is from mexico so I’m guessing he can get them.
Lunchbox45
do you have to wear a helmet when you leave your house?
Guest 7005
Pretty ignorant comment. What about all the athletes from everywhere else (including the US and Canada) that can get them as well?
While everyone knows Perez was a bust , linking him to PED’s without any proof isn’t fair.
For example, I could call you a dumbass because of your comment, but the statement isn’t really fair considering I don’t know you beyond said comment.
stl_cards16
Hey, at least he gave you proof before you judged!
jasonk
Because all Mexican players are on performance-enhancing drugs, right? Got it.
icedrake523
If he was on PEDs, I hope he kept his receipt. After all, the E stands for Enhancing.
JohnKruksWaistline
I’ve heard of having a higher BB/9 than K/9, but only when the guy’s K/9 is absolutely, utterly, brutally low. Thanks, Ollie.
Lunchbox45
8.0 bb/9
JohnKruksWaistline
Absurd!
Lunchbox45
beyond absurd.
Tina
That has to be the most AWESOME name on mlbtraderumors…”JohnKruksWaistline”, hilarious, and I’m a Braves fan!
notsureifsrs
problem?
-d. willis
TartanElk
Nope. I’m good.
-A. Miller
Carlote!!!
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TheHotCorner 2
Wow. Didn’t see this coming at all. (sarcasm)
Wonder who Boras will compare him to now when trying to sell him to another team.
roomwithamoose
Blyleven…just saying… like how long HOF voters took to see his candidacy, so will Ollie Perez to his potential? haha
Bernaldo
There is nothing, absolutely nothing to compare Perez’s career with Blyleven. One is going to the Hall fo Fame, the other a mediocre pitcher who will soon be forgotten.
SixAces
You’re being a bit nice there with “mediocre” pitcher.
NatsTown
it really is mindblowing how someone with so much talent early in their career can completely fall apart.
Paul
Eh this happens to starting pitchers.
DD
Hi, My name is Andrew Miller…it’s a pleasure to meet you.
Michael Brown
I think it’s safe to say it’s the Marlins that messed that one up. Rushing the kid to the major way, way too soon.
jill
I think the Tigers had him up in the Bigs before the Marlins tried it. No matter, he wasn’t ready.
mrjjbond
It’s the Marlin’s fault that the Tigers called him up at age 21? Or that the Tigers had him make 13 starts when he was 22?
By the time the Marlins got him, he was almost out of options.
NatsTown
I dont think you can make a comparison to the two, because Miller NEVER has any success whereas Perez was a stud and could be dominant
mr mojo risin
I watched that game too
BrianMcCann_sBeard
Maybe the Yankee’s will sign him, they need pitching help… 🙂
BrianMcCann_sBeard
Wonder if the Yankee’s will pick him up? Apparently they need pitching help… 🙂
tooth fairy
It is sad how rapidly this guy regressed. I hope he invests his money wisely because it’s doubtful that Ollie will ever stand on a major league mound again. In addition to losing his fast ball he is a serious head case. Tough business!
optionn
The Mets were tricked into paying for potential and youth. Another 36 million dollar heist to add to the billions obtained by Scott Boras.
Gumby65
Oliver Perez did for the Mets what Cousin Oliver did for the Brady Bunch. Ruined em. Absolutely ruined em, I’m tellin ya…
Karan
One could tell this was coming. The guy didn’t have the urge to improve. Refused an assignment to AAA last season when he needed it the most. Not professional at all. A step in the right direction for the Mets
patrick
to be fair…how many proven guys with huge contracts agree to AAA assignments? I know Giambi refused.
icedrake523
Great news! Now I’ll get 2 clearance jerseys in one week. Everything’s coming up Milhouse!
Lunchbox45
+10 for the everything’s coming up milhouse!
FrankFranciscoSaysTakeASeat
They shouldn’t have cut him. They should have shifted him to concessions so he could help earn back some of that 12 million bucks.
Lunchbox45
I know its ridiculous…
but would it be allowed?? how awesome would that be
Craig_Bueno
I doubt Boras would allow it unless, of course, he was cut in on the profits from the Crack Jack sales.
harmony55
I’ll always have a soft spot for Oliver Perez, whom I saw beat my Seattle Mariners in his major league debut on Father’s Day 2002 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. It was the first MLB game for my younger daughter, who was 3 years old at the time.
I wouldn’t mind if the Mariners paid the league minimum for an extreme flyball lefthander who might fare better at Safeco Field.
Mario Saavedra
I saw Ollie with the Pads beat the Yanks in 2003 (or was it 2002? not 100% sure), just freaking awesome. I have heard from sports people here in Mexico that he is kind of a douche, kind of sad.
mr mojo risin
trust me, you would mind
goner
Does anyone know if the Mets worked out a payment plan for the $12M they owe Perez? If they don’t have the money now, maybe they could agree to pay him, say, $29.8M (in annual payments of $1,193,248.20 between 2021 and 2045). I understand that kind of thing has been done before; what could possibly go wrong?
Corey 6
They can pay him normally, just like if he was on the team. No lump sum.
Gumby65
In related news, various sources have indicated that Dodgers’ GM Ned Colletti has been located at Camelback Ranch, bound & tied with his destroyed cell phone’s remains nearby. He had been listed as “missing” since shortly after the Perez release by the Mets.
Mickey Koke
I’m shocked Kevin Towers hasn’t locked Ollie up already. Sigh…
Braydon Gervais
I heard some team in Mexico called the Charros are looking for washed up big leaguers…
rovert22044
OH MAAAAAAN! DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING! *sarcasm*
coolstorybro222
Thank you, Oliver for giving my team a blowout on some occasions