SNY.tvBLOG NETWORKSCHEDULESTATSSTANDINGS VIDEO Headlines:

Matthew Cerrone

Starting Pitcher: The Book on Oliver Perez
By Matthew Cerrone - Nov 6, 2008 9:33 am

According to yesterday’s New York Post, Oliver Perez remains on Omar Minaya’s off-season radar.

Last night, in a post to a blog for the New York Times, Michael S. Schmidt provides details from the Book on Oliver Perez, made available to teams by his agent, Scott Boras.

According to Schmidt, the book is divided into eight chapters, such as: ‘Perez Turns Corner in 2006,’ ‘Perez Is One of Baseball’s Top 5 Left-Handed Starting Pitchers,’ ‘Big-Game Ollie,’ ‘Durable Ollie,’ ‘Perez Eats Innings,’ and ‘Dominates on the Biggest Stage.’

…i’m guessing boras skipped the chapters that could have been titled, ‘Ollie Under .500,’ and, ‘Errors and Wild Pitches: When the Wheels Come Off the Wagon.’…

According to a recent report from Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, “The Mets probably would go to $12 million per season for Perez, but Boras almost certainly will want more for Perez than the Mariners gave right-hander Carlos Silva last offseason,” i.e., a four-year, $48 million contract.

Meanwhile, the Cubs are willing to give free-agent RHP Ryan Dempster a four-year contract, reports Rosenthal.

in other words, if dempster gets a four-year deal, and silva got a four-year deal last year, the Mets are not bringing back oliver for anything less…in fact, it can be argued he should get more, which is hard to believe

By the way, speaking of left-handed pitchers, in SI.com, Jon Heyman says the Mets are looking at free-agent LHP Randy Wolf, in addition to Perez and Derek Lowe.

Last week, in a poll on MetsBlog.com, 70 percent of voters said they would sign Perez to a three-year deal.

However, would you sign Perez to a four-year deal, worth more than $12 million per season?


View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

58 Responses to “Starting Pitcher: The Book on Oliver Perez”

  1. Nate W. says:

    I voted No, I wouldnt sign him right now.
    I might do it in a month, two months. But not when Lowe is available and other options havent been closed.

    Wolf would be an excellent guy for 5th starter. Considering he always beats the Mets, and teams like Atlanta will be needing starters…

    • HOFMets57 says:

      Perez is still only 27 years old. He’s bound to pitch 200 innings throughout the duration of his new contract. Sure, he’s a little wild at times, but he also dominates our biggest rivals (Braves, Phillies and Yankees).

      • ravi3 says:

        But he also rarely goes deep in games, taxing the bullpen….

      • therealsince86 says:

        What makes you think he is bound to pitch 200 innings when he has never done it?

      • joeymets says:

        I find it idiotic that these fans worry about Wilpon spending money. Ollie while not being the most consistent pitcher out there is certainly better then everyone out there with the exception of CC.

    • PAPDOG67 says:

      I agree Nate. Wolf would be a perfect, cost-effective replacement for Perez. You could probably get Wolf @ 2 years – $10 million and get just about the same production. 18 quality starts last season looks very good in the 5th starter spot.

  2. cval says:

    Perez has a lot more value to the Mets than to some other teams because he is very effective against the Phillies.

    • stilltheEWM says:

      0.35 ERA in 2008 vs the Phils in4 starts.

      That is sick.

      • ravi3 says:

        yup…I’m just worried that eventually they’ll figure him out, ya know?

        • I hear that. I also believe that a pitcher loses effectiveness when a team sees him 4 times/year. However, that shouldn’t stop you from getting the guy. Ollie is young enough right now where his best days as a starting pitcher could be ahead of him. I would bet on that, actually.

  3. Seavertheman says:

    The analysis is missing something–Boras can’t dictate the length of contract unless he can find someone to give it. I’m not advocating collusion (which would violate the CBA), but if every team independently decided that Ollie was not worth a 4 year risk, Boras is powerless to get a contract of that length. Of course, unfortunately, there’s always some fool who will buy in.

    • hotchipwillbreakyourlegs says:

      yup. that’s never happened ever. there’s always someone who thinks the player is worth the extra year or is desperate enough to give in to boras, who has everyone by the balls.

      • Nate W. says:

        ex: Kevin Millwood

        He wanted something like a 6 year deal and ended up on a 1 year trial. Of course Texas overpaid for him the following off season, but he is one (rare) example of a guy who didnt land the huge deal Boras wanted.

  4. Prismo says:

    Some of the other excerpts from the book are downright hilarious. Comparing Ollie to CC and Santana, and saying he’s on a career progression like Koufax. Completely laughable.

    Also…WOLF!? No thanks.

    • Prismo says:

      He also says Ollie is an “innings-eater”. I’m pretty sure he averaged around 5 1/3 (or 2/3, can’t remember) innings per start last year…which is horrible.

      • therealsince86 says:

        Yup and never pitched 8 innings.

        • stilltheEWM says:

          He did end the year with 194 total

        • therealsince86 says:

          True enough. Yet his inconsistancy ripped the pen apart. He was terrible against the average team, which are the teams that we struggled against all year. When your pitcher goes out and throws .1 innings and is replaced by the pen, you lose that game and are hurt for the next. I am sorry but a guy that averages 5 1/2 innings per start is not worth 4/48-60.

      • Maybe what he meant was Ollie is a “Cookie Monster”?

  5. stilltheEWM says:

    He may not be worth 4 years at 12/13 mill.. but the Mets will miss him if he’s not resigned.

    This is going to be a tough call for them.

    • hotchipwillbreakyourlegs says:

      I think most mets fans went into the off-season as-suming Oliver wouldn’t be back. Part of our infatuation with Derek Lowe is that he’s the anti-oliver. Goes out and throws the same game every time.

      I like “when the wheels come off the wagon.” I can’t watch or listen to ollie’s starts because once that first infield hit or ill-advised throw to second by oliver that goes into center field happens, it’s game over. Good riddance

      • stilltheEWM says:

        Derek Lowe is 10 years older then Ollie.. and his right handed not left.. and we play the phils 20 plus times a year, who have two of the best left handed hitters in all of baseball in their lineup.

        Derek Lowe is not a suitable replacement for Ollie.

        • therealsince86 says:

          LOL, not going there today. You are obsessed with the Phillies. Lowe would be a great addition to the Mets. If you care about a LHP so much then sign Randy Wolf for much cheaper or let Niese take the #5.

        • stilltheEWM says:

          Why does everyone love Derek Lowe? He’s Ok.. he’s not great..

          I know we need to beat the Phils if we want to win the NL East again… so yes.. pitchers that do well against them.. are valuable.

          I mean let’s face it.. we’ve given out a lot worse contracts to players when 4 years 12 million for a 27 year old lefty.

        • therealsince86 says:

          We did fine against the Phillies last year, it was our inability to beat the crappy teams that lost it for us. Perez was part of both.
          As for Lowe, his numbers across the board are better than Ollie. Look at his WHIP and that should tell the entire story. He is much older and I would be catious with anything more than a 3 year deal.

        • Dirtysanchez says:

          the phills lost in the reg season against us but went on to win the world series….the phills won the nl east with a losing record against us.

        • therealsince86 says:

          I would not mind having Ollie back if he would take a contract for what he is worth. A 5 inning pitcher that has never been consistant and has never thrown 200 innings.

          Something like 3/33 would be appropriate.

        • Dirtysanchez says:

          lol while imo he is worth less than that but 3/33 would give boras a heart attack lol. Im with gina on this one and i think you too real to let him go and take the pix

        • SovereignRonnie says:

          4th’d.

  6. altru426 says:

    just thinking…quiet rumors about rowand possibly being on the block…would it make sense for the mets to trade for him for left field?

  7. therealsince86 says:

    I think Randy Wolf might be a very good guy to pick up. He had respectable numbers last season, is LH and should not cost anywhere near the years or cash as some other guys.
    Johan, Pelfrey, Vasquez, Wolf, Maine would not be terrible. I would also not cost us picks and actually averages slighty more innings per start as Perez. He also has a decent K rate strking out 162 in 191 innings.

    • stilltheEWM says:

      He also played half his games in Petco last year… he’s no better then a 4 at best.

      • therealsince86 says:

        So, what is your point? You want us to sign all #1’s?
        Wolf would be a good addition to the staff because he is low risk. He most likely is only seeking a 2 year deal worth 8 million or so a year.

        • I really don’t want Randy Wolf on this team. Only way I would be behind it is if we brought the Wolf Pack to NY. Would be good retribution for Ya Gotta Believe.

        • therealsince86 says:

          Look at his numbers for last season. He’s not that old and would be cheap. Not a bad guy at all to have as your #5 while Niese matures. He’s also a guy that if needed could pitch out of the pen as he has a decent K rate.

        • I have to say, I looked at them before and am shocked by his K-Rate. He is basically a soft tossing lefty. Very interesting.

          Maybe Omar will bring Glavine back :-)

  8. Agees Catch says:

    The “Koufax Progression” isn’t absurd. Alot of guys are on the KP. For 6 seasons Sandy went from flashes of brilliance to a ticket home on the next greyhound. From 61-66, it’s obvious they named the best pitcher in baseball award after the wrong guy.

  9. Gina says:

    Please just take the draft picks and forget about Ollie and his 100 some walks a year.

    • Dirtysanchez says:

      bingo

    • metinDC23 says:

      Question- if we let Ollie go and get the draft picks are they protected? Or do we lose the first round pick if we draft a second type A?

      If they are protected it should be a no-brainer to not resign him.

      • ksuth says:

        you mean if we sign a type A?

        • metinDC23 says:

          I’m as-suming we’re gonna sign at least 1 type A. If we sign second and let Ollie go do we lose the pick we got from Ollie for that second FA?

        • therealsince86 says:

          I would as sume that if we let Ollie go that we net a 1st round and a supplemental pick.
          If we sign a type A then we lose a first round pick. Thus by letting him go we get a supplemental either way?

      • Gina says:

        They are protected.

      • Nate W. says:

        The Mets will get compensation for Perez in the form of a 1st (or 2nd) round pick, and a compensation round pick.

        If the Mets sign Lowe, they give the Dodgers the Mets 1st round pick, and a compensation round pick. But they cant get the Mets compensation pick, its a new pick.

        A team cant lose its compensation round pick in exchange for signing a new player, they would lose later round picks 2nd, 3rd, on down.

        So if the Mets and Dodgers ‘exchanged’ Perez for Lowe as free agents, the would swap 1st round picks (as long as no better free agents are signed by either team) and each team would get a compensation round pick.

  10. ksuth says:

    I think we should ante up for Ollie. As someone above said, we’ve given out a lot worse contracts…Mo Vaughn, Luis Castillo, Bobby Bonilla…I think if the Mets retain Ollie and sign Lowe (I know, a lot of $$ on starting pitching) and flip Heilman, Castillo, and possibly Karp/Evans for some relievers we’d be in a good place.

    • metinDC23 says:

      Just because we’ve given out really bad contracts in the past doesn’t mean we should be okay with giving out sorta bad contracts now.

  11. amazins2001 says:

    Why spend 12-14 mill for Ollie when you can spend 18-20 mill on CC?

  12. DWright31 says:

    Big game Ollie? Tell Boras to look at his numbers in the last two Septembers. I dont want this guy on the Mets anymore. Good riddance.

  13. mark4212 says:

    I wouldn’tmind Ollie like most people are saying. But the fact is he’s erratic and you don’t know what your going to get every game.

    Not that said, would i take him over guys like Wolf and others that are out there I wouldn’t mind. And 12-13 million for 4 years for a 27 year old isn’t asking a lot. But again he will probably ask for and get more then that from some team that’s pitching desperate, which the mets aren’t.

    The mets already have 3 SP’s on the roster. There are more and more guys going out there and being made available through trade. So Filling in the final 2 spots won’t be that hard. You just have to hope whoever the Mets pick up are healthy for most of their contract, because outside Lowe, Garland and Ollie all the other have major injury risks attached.

  14. SantanaCYYOung says:

    this is what i want the mets to do regarding SP this offseason:

    sign CC
    and give livan hernandez a one year deal for $1mil. this guy usually starts good then falls off. hopefully he’ll last long enough to give Niese a chance to develop more in the minors and eat up enough innings between him, CC, Santana and Pelf to not tax the bullpen

  15. edwin nieves says:

    When u pitch eratic like Perez did in his contract year what does that tell u?