9:02am: Perez will not be released today, a source tells Martino (Twitter link). Instead, he'll get two bullpen appearances and will be released if they are not stellar.
8:03am: "The end is drawing closer" for Oliver Perez and the Mets, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Perez's Spring Training starts were "mere theater," writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Now, Mets GM Sandy Alderson, manager Terry Collins, and pitching coach Dan Warthen will meet today to decide between giving Perez a shot at relief or releasing him immediately, according to Martino.
Why are the Mets going through these motions with Perez? Some in the organization really want to see him audition for the bullpen, tweets Martino. Otherwise, Sherman has two theories. One is that the new administration must "put on a show" for ownership before cutting Perez. The other is that ownership is aiming to release Perez and Luis Castillo closer to the season, to "get the most positive bump" with fans before Opening Day.
Releasing Perez and Castillo will require the Mets to eat $18MM. Click here for my list of other candidates to be released this month.
BravesRed
Boras will have him a new job within a week.
gangsta
Doubt it.
This post, entitled “The Next Steps for Oliver Perez,” should only contain one word.
“Retirement.”
The_Silver_Stacker
Mets fans get your party hats ready
pete a
Los Mets coming to an end….
mgsports
Both to the Yankees for Prospects.
pete a
lay off the drugs man. best the mets can get is a bag of baseballs!!
start_wearing_purple
Is the bat boy considered a prospect?
AlKelz
Two more of Minaya’s affirmative action team bite the dust. Just as he has. Beltran is next. K-Rod is K-Gone. Johan if he recovers will be traded. Now if only the Mets could release the Wilpons ?
The_Silver_Stacker
If the Mets consider trading Santana they will have to eat a good chunk of that contract as I’m sure teams are going to be cautious given his injury status.
Carlote!!!
one word for you Perez…….RELEASE, RELEASE, RELEASE, RELEASE, RELEASE, RELEASE
mgsports
Yes the Yankees would take any SP that the Mets would offer.
pete a
if he can’t pitch in the NL East what makes you think he would do good in the AL?
MetsEventually
Perez just can’t pitch in general though
The_Silver_Stacker
The Yankees have better in house solutions then any pitcher the Mets can offer.
MB923
Not if their name isn’t Johan Santana
MetsEventually
So stellar means not giving up a single run or hit or walk and striking out everyone right? No more Ollie it is!
Gumby65
Mets dealing with Ollie is like taking watch to the pawn shop and the clerk telling you “Twenty Bucks, but if you have the original box it came in, I’ll charge you only Five bucks to dispose of it”.
RichardE
if i’m ollie wouldn’t i want to be released? hope to get a spot with the pirates or the royals and try to be a starter again? i’m leaving some meat balls over the plate in these two spring training appearances.