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Oliver Perez

Oliver Perez Refused Minor League Assignment

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TUESDAY, 10:59am: Perez will not be released, tweets SI's Jon Heyman after talking to a Mets official.  Mike Puma of the New York Post says the Mets asked Perez at least twice to accept a minor league assignment.  Puma's colleague Joel Sherman says fans should blame the Mets for the bad contract, rather than Perez for refusing to go to the minors.

MONDAY, 8:04am: Pitcher Oliver Perez refused a minor league assignment from the Mets, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post.  As is typical, Perez's contract gives him that power.  Perez is firm in his desire to remain in the bigs, which has been clear since David Lennon's tweet two weeks ago.

Perez is a waste of a roster spot for the Mets, as manager Jerry Manuel struggled to tell Puma which game scenario would prompt use of the lefty.  Perez is not wanted by his teammates – Puma talked to a pair of Mets who recommend releasing him if he won't go to Triple A.

Even now, after 90 walks in 102 innings since Perez's contract began, Puma says the Mets have not internally discussed cutting the pitcher.  Perez is owed $20.2MM through the 2011 season.  Perhaps he will hang around as long as Omar Minaya does.

Oliver Perez Trade Ideas

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After a look at our Bad Contract Swap Meet post, let's put on our speculating cap and try to find a trade that would work for the Mets and Oliver Perez.

Perez is owed $20.2MM through 2011.  He refused the Mets' minor league assignment and isn't helping the big league team.  Not only is he a project, he's one that must be tinkered with in the Majors.

Gary Matthews Jr.'s contract qualifies as equally bad, but he's already on the Mets.  A couple of Perez trade ideas:

  • Perez and $8.8MM to the Brewers for Jeff Suppan.  Suppan has $10.6MM left on his contract.  The Mets save $800K here, about $500K beyond what they'd get back if they released Perez and he signed elsewhere.  From the Brewers' point of view Perez at least has more upside than Suppan.  The lefty would be reunited with pitching coach Rick Peterson, who was Perez's guide during the pitcher's initial Mets resurgence.  The Brewers might require assurance that Perez would accept a minor league assignment in 2011 if necessary.
  • Perez and $10.5MM to the Royals for Jose Guillen and Kyle Farnsworth.  Guillen is owed $8.2MM, Farnsworth $3.6MM.  This scenario has the Mets taking on $2.1MM to acquire Guillen and Farnsworth, about $550K of which covers what the Royals might get after releasing the two players. 

Odds & Ends: Scherzer, Lamb, LaRoche

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Saturday night linkage..

Odds & Ends: Zobrist, Pierzynski, Lowe, Padres

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Links for Friday…

Mets Looking At Gil Meche

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6:39am: Matthew Cerrone at MetsBlog relays some info from Jon Heyman's appearance on WNBC in New York. Heyman agrees with Sherman that the Mets could look to spread their available funds around before turning to a big-name free agent.

6:27am: While the Mets plan to look at Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, and have high hopes that John Lackey's price will come down enough to entice him to accept a four-year offer, they also realize that's an unlikely scenario and are exploring other avenues. They're currently intrigued by Royals righty Gil Meche, according to Joel Sherman.

Meche has two years and $24MM left on his contract, which includes a limited no-trade clause. As we heard earlier tonight, the Royals are working to trim payroll in order to address some needs within their lineup. While Meche (when healthy) is an important part of their rotation, the $24MM owed to him could be better spent improving multiple areas of the team, especially in this economy.

Sherman says the Mets may explore moving Luis Castillo as part of a Meche deal, possibly taking back another bad contract such as Kyle Farnsworth or Juan Cruz if necessary. If it were to happen, Castillo's .387 OBP alone would be of benefit to a Royals team that was starved for OBP last season, posting a team mark of .318, tied for third-worst in baseball.

The Mets are concerned, however, about adding another injury risk to a rotation that already features such question marks as John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, and Oliver Perez. However, most free agent options lack elite talent and/or strong durability.

Meche seems like a solid target for the Mets, provided he's healthy. What sort of offers do you see being proposed by Omar Minaya?

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Wood, Sheets, Bradley, Wagner

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On this date two years ago, Mike Lowell re-signed with the Red Sox for three-years, $37.5MM. In this first two years of the deal, Lowell has taken in $25.5MM, and according to his WAR has been worth $19.9MM. In '10, Lowell will be 36 as he enters the final year of his deal. Today is the first day of free agency, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Mets Notes: Adrian Gonzalez, Marquis, DeRosa

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The incomparable Marty Noble answers many of the fan inquiries with his usual mixture of information and wit. Among other ideas, he considers:

  • Just what would it take, hypothetically, to bring Adrian Gonzalez to Queens? Noble believes a package of John Maine, Fernando Martinez and Ike Davis "and perhaps more would be one to consider seriously."
  • Noble likes Joel Pineiro more than Jason Marquis, adding that "I know the Mets are interested in [Bengie] Molina."
  • He says that while Mark DeRosa wouldn't be a top priority, "If they can't bring back Alex Cora, DeRosa would an even better fit."
  • He counters a fan's proposal to trade "Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez and Omir Santos to the Angels for Erick Aybar, Gary Matthews Jr., Ervin Santana and Jeff Mathis" with one of his own: "How about Perez for the rights to Albie Pearson?" Pearson was the 1958 AL Rookie of the Year, of course.

As usual, Noble is must-reading.

Olney On Potential Non-Tenders And Bradley

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In today's blog post at ESPN.com, Buster Olney indicates that there is belief among general managers that the "financial restructuring that has been occurring across the landscape is about to hit the arbitration-level players like a tidal wave." He mentions underperforming, but well paid players like Garrett Atkins and Kelly Johnson are prime non-tender bait, especially since their clubs have replacements ready and it's unlikely they'll be able to trade them. Make sure you check out MLBTR's list of non-tender candidates.

Olney also talks about some bad contracts the Cubs could acquire in exchange for Milton Bradley, adding that this morning's Vernon Wells rumor "would be a stunner" if it happened. Some of the players he mentions as possible fits include Carlos Silva, Derek Lowe, Gary Matthews Jr. (who said he wants out of Anaheim), Barry Zito, Aaron Rowand, Oliver Perez, and Dontrelle Willis, among others. Any other ideas?

Odds & Ends: Saito, Jaramillo, Marlins

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More Monday linkage…

  • Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies want catcher Yorvit Torrealba back, but not at his $4MM option price.
  • WEEI's Alex Speier explains that outrighting Takashi Saito makes a Boston re-signing more feasible.
  • Rudy Jaramillo will likely reach an agreement soon with the Cubs for their hitting coach position, according to SI's Jon Heyman.  Heyman says Jaramillo will be near the top of the coach pay scale, at $800K a year for multiple years.  The Cubs are hoping Jaramillo can help Alfonso Soriano. Milton Bradley hit well in Texas, though he's a trade candidate.
  • MLB.com's Joe Frisaro talked to first baseman Nick Johnson, who is approaching free agency for the first time in his career.  Johnson seems unlikely to stay with the Marlins.  (Check out our discussion post on him here).  Frisaro says the Fish could further shake up the infield corners by trading Jorge Cantu.
  • Newsday's David Lennon reminds us the Mets chose Oliver Perez over Randy Wolf last winter.  Wolf supplied 214.3 innings of 3.23 ball for the Dodgers for $8MM.
  • MLB.com's Jordan Bastian talked to Blue Jays defensive whiz/impending free agent John McDonald about the future and his popularity in Toronto.
  • MLB.com's Bill Chastain feels the Rays will at least talk to free agent reliever Billy Wagner.  Nice fit, though VP Andrew Friedman found it unlikely they'd sign a closer when asked a few weeks ago.  It won't help if Wagner turns down an arbitration offer from the Red Sox, which would attach a draft pick cost.

Discussion: Milton Bradley For Oliver Perez

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There is no indication the Cubs and Mets have discussed swapping disappointing free agent signings Milton Bradley and Oliver Perez.  It makes for interesting discussion, however.  Joel Sherman of the New York Post even wonders if an expanded deal could include Carlos Zambrano or Luis Castillo.

Bradley's power disappeared this year en route to a .257/.378/.397 line in 473 plate appearances.  He adapted poorly to Chicago, his season ending with a team-mandated suspension for his negative comments.  Would New York be any easier?  The switch-hitting Bradley turns 32 in April and has $21MM remaining on his contract.

Perez's already-lousy control worsened to a ridiculous 7.9 walks per nine innings in his 14 starts this year.  He still piled up strikeouts, but home runs and hits were a problem as well.  His 28.3% groundball rate was among the lowest in baseball.  Perez arrived at Spring Training from the WBC out of shape, and was booted to the bullpen in May.  He dealt with a knee problem thereafter and had season-ending surgery in August.  The 28-year-old Scott Boras client has $24MM remaining on his contract.

Perez for Bradley – who says no?

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