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.
I don’t understand why Perez refuses a minor league assigment. Yes, it’s in his contract, but he should realize that he’s not doing himself any favors for his next contract; this is a really shortsighted tantrum he’s throwing. He’s not going to get enough pitching at the major league level to iron himself out. He need only look at Ricky Nolasco last year and Max Scherzer (well, after 1 start) this year to see the possible benefit of a temporary minor league stay. I think it would help clear his head, too. What a selfish, shortsighted prick. Hopefully he gets cut eventually, even if they say he won’t be cut now.
Sherman’s an idiot, also.
Hopefully his next contract is with the St. Paul Saints.
“Sherman’s an idiot, also.”
Tough to argue with that, but he has a point – the Mets/Omar deserve more blame than Perez.
“Hopefully he gets cut eventually, even if they say he won’t be cut now.”
And when that day comes neither Ollie nor the Mets need worry about travel arrangements. I’ll be so happy I’ll pack his bags and drive him back to Culiacán MYSELF!!
Dang…Perez’s ego is bigger than his paycheck!!
He wants to stay in the big league park? Make him wear the Mr. Met costume. Enough already.
I can’t WAIT to hear Boras spin this…. I can hear it now…how Perez is a combo of Steve Carlton and Sandy Koufax… Perez is a WASTE of a pitcher. The typical 5 cent head. How Minaya keeps his job is beyond me….
Well Boras could technically be right. Especially if he meant the 1987 Steve Carlton and the 1956 Sandy Koufax.
I agree about Minaya. Mets fans can keep making excuses about team injuries, but there’s a point where the team building ability of Minaya has to come into play. Considering Perez’s ability to have only short bursts of greatness followed by much longer bursts of god-awfulness he never should have gotten much more than a couple of million… especially not the $36M jackpot.
Obligatory comment about how good Johan is
Obligatory comment about how the Mets got him only because neither the yanks nor the Red Sox really wanted Santana… they wanted to make sure the other team didn’t get him.
While I do believe Ollie Perez is not an irrecoverable asset, I am dismayed by Minaya’s inability to recognize his mistakes and move on. Case in point, the Angels recognized their error in signing an HGH-laden GMJ. They gave him away to the Mets, eating his contract dollars. The NY Mets on the other hand, cling to a player like Luis Castillo, a poor contributor, because they cannot bring themselves to carry his contract dollars. Think what a difference a younger player such as Orlando Hudson would have made hitting in the 2 hole for the Mets this year, playing solid defense and setting the table….what a shame.
Did you guys seriously delete an entire comment thread again? What is the point of that crap?
Perez is pitching in the same manner as when they acquired him from the Pirates. His release angle is off. As a consequence, he is losing velocity on his fastball and can’t throw his slider for strikes.
Perez can be fixed through solid coaching. The NY Mets need to go back and review tapes of his dominant starts. He’s not irrecoverable.
That said, his refusal to go work with Phil Regan in Florida, bypassing Buffalo, is incomprehensible in terms of 1) what’s right for Ollie Perez and 2) what’s right for the NY Mets organization.
The only beneficiary is Scott Boras, who will benefit economically from his release from the NY Mets and subsequent signing by another team. Boras should be boycotted on the basis of how he’s playing puppet master with his client Ollie Perez and the NY Mets…
“Boras should be boycotted on the basis of how he’s playing puppet master with his client Ollie Perez and the NY Mets.”
Boycotted? Why? Agents work for their clients, not the team.
He’s representing his clients, yes, but selling their services to the big league clubs. Last I checked, big league clubs were the only market that exists for MLB talent (maybe Japan, Mexican league in addition?).
If the big league teams see that Boras’ clients only act in their interests, and ignore the interests of the ultimate consumers of their service, they should make the logical conclusion that they’ll be screwed in cases where they employ Boras talent. Not only do they pay a premium, they’re not even provided good service when the talent does not perform as anticipated.
Boras isnt the only agent with players who are selfish or dont live up to their contracts.
And fine, avoid Boras clients, that means a GM is going to sign lesser talent (in most cases, not talking about 35+ year old veterans), and put his job on the line by not putting together the best team possible.
So be it.
The Mets need to focus more on team chemistry and less on the numbers. Boras represents statistical performers. Mets need team leaders who create good chemistry in the clubhouse.
I’d like to see the Mets using their big market status and TV dollars to overslot on the draft. Boston has done this with great success. The Mets ignore the draft to their own peril.
Screw Boras and his over hyped and overpaid clients. The Mets should let other teams fight over who will pay the most. By removing themselves from the bidding, they’ll drive down his market by 30%…
Mets need to focus more on getting better players at RF, 2B, and SP. You start winning, guys like each other. You dont make the playoffs for 3 years, every gets on each other nerves
By the way, that means you’re OK with letting Pelfry walk away after his arb years.
I’d be fine with saying goodbye to Pelfrey. I still don’t see him as a guy that will remain a consistent # 1 or 2 starter. Let’s see him pitch at his current level for an entire season.
He’s trying to get cut, and the Mets are engaging in a game of Chicken. If Perez is cut, he’ll almost certainly find a job somewhere. For the pro-rated league minimum, he’s worth a tryout!
I normally can’t stand Joel Sherman who is a Yankee shill and never misses a moment to ding the Mets. But he is right about this, the Mets have NO ONE to blame but themselves. Once again, this team deluded itself into believing something that was clearly not true (as in Aaron Heilman can pitch, Scott Shoeneweis can pitch, etc.). Oliver Perez cannot pitch, he sucks. Don’t tell me about winning 15 games in 2007, don’t tell me about how he pitched in the 2006 playoffs (Endy Chavez bailed him out with one of the greatest post-season catches of all time). He sucks.
If he still thinks he can pitch at all then, hopefully, someone will convince him to go down to the minors and figure it out. But I happen to believe the main reason he won’t go is because deep down he knows he can’t pitch and he doesn’t want to be embarrassed when minor leaguers light him up like the Fourth of July. Enjoy your $36 million Ollie, invest it well. Maybe you can open a pitching camp.
Ollie Perez showed what he could do when his mechanics were in order. I can recall games where he dominated over seven innings, making big league lineups look utterly baffled by his fastball, slider, changeup arsenal.
Throughout his career, he’s been prone to breakdown in his mechanics. He was fortunate to work with Rick Peterson, who knew how to correct his mechanical issues and could keep him focused when an event (i.e., dropped pop up) would normally cause him to self destruct.
Dan Warthen has no idea how to get Ollie back on track. Sadly, the damage to OPez’ reputation will likely preclude him from making a comeback. Boras is managing this situation terribly…
I’d hardly call Sherman a Yankee shill. Have you ever watched a Girardi post game interview? When Sherman asks a question Girardi nearly climbs over the table and strangles him. Sherman’s a shill for Sherman. He blasts both teams equally.
Release him. Game over.
Ollie thinks he’s a ML pitcher. News for ya, Ollie. Hi 80’s stuff with no control is what I can see over here at the Newark Bears. Ya oughta be thankful Omah was enuff of an idjit to give you that gas filled contract, cuz ain’t nobody in baseball giving you another one.
I want to spin this in another direction. Do you guys think this will put a strain on the relationship between Boras and the Mets? I mean, this is supposed to be the greatest manipulator of our time! If he can’t get his client to accept a minor league assignment, which is arguably the best possible solution for getting Ollie back on track, does Boras’ credibility take a hit?
And can Mets, or other teams even, bring this up in future negotiations with Boras’ clients? Hmm…
“And can Mets, or other teams even, bring this up in future negotiations with Boras’ clients?”
What are they going to say- “You want 100m? We’ll we’re only going to offer 80m because you couldnt convince Perez to go to the minors.”? Good luck with that.
Well… yes. Not in those words, obviously, but in that general sense, yes. Or just not deal with Boras clients altogether, bringing down their market value by not being involved in the bidding. There are other teams that prefer to stay away from Boras clients. Mets can be another.
Of course, this wouldn’t be the only reason. But more like a straw on the camel’s back sort of thing.
Why? Minaya was the one who signed him. Should he now say “Boras you tricked me to signing high risk talent for sure thing money… I’ll punish one of your other clients” In that case he’s probably less use to the Mets organization than the peanut vendors.
You really think, with all that’s happened with Boras as an agent, that teams don’t take note of that and avoid him?
Hey, I’m not absolving Minaya of any blame. I get it. It was and is totally the fault of the Mets for signing Ollie to that ridiculous contract. However, now that the contract is signed, Ollie plays for the Mets, and it is in the team’s best interest for him to rehab in the minors to get himself worked out. Both parties know this, yet Ollie and Boras deliberately will not accept that assignment. Hence where I think the relationship strain comes in, not at the signing/commencement of the deal, as you mentioned.
Sure you can do that with the Willie Bloomquists, Hank Blalocks, etc. But if there’s one ace on the market, you’re not going to go after him because of his agent?
I’d agree with you and say the Mets and Boras have a strained relationship. Because of the Beltran thing and now Ollie. I can’t see them having the same impression today, they did 5+ years ago. Which is probably why they didnt wanna get involved in trying to sign Holliday.
I think this shows Boras is not a good business partner to work with. He’s coaching Ollie to force the Mets hand knowing they won’t waste the roster spot all year. Eventually, they’ll be forced to either deal him or trade him. Boras makes money in the more likely scenario B. He makes no additional money if Ollie goes to the minors, works his way back into a rotation spot, and begins to earn the money the Mets paid for his services. This is self interested to the core. I hope it ultimately backfires on Boras and ends up costing him the Mets as a client / and or / negotiating chip with other teams.
To the Mets: note this incident well and do not negotiate with terrorists, uh, Boras clients, in the future!
How does Boras make money if Perez is traded?
I don’t think he does – I believe he’d prefer an outright release so he can have Ollie re-up with a new franchise.
“Boras makes money in the more likely scenario B.”
-What did you mean by that comment then?
I didn’t word it well re-reading my post…what I’m referring to is a scenario where Ollie is released by the Mets, who pick up obligation for his remaining dollars. He then signs with another club. He is, in essence, being paid twice. Boras makes more money helping negotiate a contract with the new club. He makes nothing extra with the current arrangement.
If I was in Perez’s shoes, I probably wouldn’t want to go to the minors either. Hate to say it, but Sherman is 100% dead-on.
It is in Ollie’s interests at this point to accept the assignment to work with Phil Regan at the St Lucie facility. Ollie has mechanical issues relating to his release point. Dan Warthen does not have the skill and analytical capabilities to identify this issue and help Ollie resolve it. Therefore, his best option is to go to the minors and work with a pitching coach worth his salt who can help him get his delivery angle back.
Ollie can be fixed. It is borderline tragic how he’s refusing help. He needs to find a new agent if he wants a future in baseball. Otherwise, he can go back Mexico and pitch in their league.
Agreed.
I think Perez knows he can’t be fixed, and just wants to milk the Mets of their major-league level amenities. He’s also made enough money where he doesn’t have to pitch again once his contract is up.
It seems crazy for the Mets to have a pitching coach who can’t coach. I know Rick Peterson rubs some people the wrong way, but man knows his stuff. That is all.
Agreed – wish Mets had kept him when they dumped Randolph. A great pitching coach is worth a fortune to an MLB franchise.
You might be correct. Hard to say what is in his head at this point. He doesn’t strike me as a very intelligent individual, someone who can think a year or two in advance. He’s been a player of great potential throughout his career and has shown flashes of brilliance. Too bad the Mets ended up footing the bill for his downside…
I don’t think Perez is purposely tanking the season to get released.
I think he was a pitcher who was on something all these years and now that he’s off whatever he was on, he has lost his velocity like many other pitchers in the game seem to have.
Without PED’s, the game is getting younger by the day. Home runs are down. Velocity is down.
Perez lost his stuff because he lost whatever he was taking that gave him that stuff.
Even though he was asked twice, did anyone use the word “please?” That goes a long way. Seriously, if I was Oliver, I would ask for my release. He would get picked up by another team very quickly and not have to feel the pain of NY anymore.
OK: “Ollie, would you please accept a minor league assignment to work on your pitching mechanics? When your mechanics are correct, and your release point is right, you’re one of the most exciting left handed starting pitchers in baseball. We, the fans of the NY Mets, would enjoy eating crow and seeing you return to your earlier demonstrated form. Please do the right thing for yourself and for the Mets.”
Ollie’s making that Derek Lowe contract look pretty sweet by comparison. And that’s hard to do.