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The Mets continue to negotiate with Oliver Perez in hopes of signing him to a long-term deal, and while people familiar with the situation suggest talks slowed in the last day or two, the Mets still are widely viewed as the favorite to sign the 27-year-old lefthander.
Mets general manager Omar Minaya is also considering three more free-agent pitchers -- Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf and Jon Garland -- but is known to strongly prefer Perez, whom he picked up as a virtual throw-in in the trade that sent Xavier Nady to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2006. Minaya believes that Perez, who went 10-7 last year and is 25-17 over the past two seasons, may have just scratched the surface of his potential and could still blossom into a star, those close to Minaya say.
As SI.com reported, the Mets upped their offer to Perez to beyond $30 million for three years sometime late last week. But talks don't appear to have progressed the last couple days as both sides also weigh other options.
Other suitors for Perez haven't become public, but it isn't a stretch to think there's interest in a young left-hander. The Rangers and Brewers seem to make some sense -- though Milwaukee's higher-ups have indicated in recent days they may not go for a big-ticket signing despite losing CC Sabathia and perhaps Sheets. The Diamondbacks and Dodgers are two more teams looking for pitchers, but both those teams seem strongly inclined to pursue one-year deals with established starters in a very tight starting-pitching market.
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Comments (23) Add A Comment
blah blah blah, the mets better do something if they want to catch the WORLD FU@$in CHAMPS
*Chaser
Total Comments (37364)
Sign Sheets and Manny. Forget Perez.
Geeon
Patchogue , NY
Total Comments (186)
are the going to do anything else this season or continue to let the yankees and every other team i baseball steal the back pages......omar DO SOMETHING!!!!
shot317
White Plains , NY
Total Comments (2)
*phone rings*
heyman: Scott, it's Jon.... Brewers owner came out and said they are not interested in Ollie 10 minutes after I said they were.. WHAT DO WE DO?!!"
Boras: "Don't worry, jsut say the Dodgers and D-Backs are involved. That should work for a bit."
Heyman: "What would I do without you Scott? I'd really have nothing to write if you weren't around"
Spadanko
Bloomfield , NJ
Total Comments (27)
Enjoy the one championship FILLYdelphia earns every quarter CENTURY!
NY State of Mind
Total Comments (18)
Shhh! Nobody tell him its almost a quarter century since the mets last won a championship.
Atomic Ritual
Total Comments (165)
DW mets fans nobody wants perez..he will soon realize this and sign for over 30 mil for three yrs which is more than generous for a subpar inconsistant pitcher. Once we clean this mess up despite bs reports omar will go get manny it jus makes too much sense
Proves
Lincroft , NJ
Total Comments (20)
n than well see whose talkn shiite
Proves
Lincroft , NJ
Total Comments (20)
Get rid of Oliver Perez and get the three free agents (Garland,Sheets,Wolf).
Chin Lee
Total Comments (6)
that 30mil can get sheets for 2 years at 15mil and garland for 1 year at 7mil likwise for wolf
KANO
Guayama , PR
Total Comments (37)
Perez and Ramirez. Done!
rcoolc
Easley , SC
Total Comments (1)
SHOCKING.....SOMEONE SIGNED A STARTING PITCHER (GARLDAND) AND OMAR STILL DOES NOTHING
shot317
White Plains , NY
Total Comments (2)
Mets should forget about Perez and go after Sheets....Im tired of the inconsistancy of Perez....And lets not forget about his tendency to call it a game when the Mets give him a large lead....It seems like whenever the Mets get the lead, Perez gives it right back the next inning.....FORGET HIM....GO AFTER SHEETS.
y2a4eeever
New York , NY
Total Comments (5)
Jon Heyman reports that despite Pettitte being re-signed by the Yankees, that the Yankees are considering using 7 starters this year, which would put Perez in line for a 4 year, 75 million dollar deal.
StanleynotBuckner
New York , NY
Total Comments (19)
y2a4: You CANNOT sign Sheets in a situation in which you rely on him. I like KANO's suggestion, but don't think that Wolf signs for 7, but it's the right idea- sign Sheets and another 5th starter type with a good track record of staying healthy. Garland would've fit that bill...also, we need another lefty in this rotation.
Proves: I agree with you too- it does just make too much damn sense!!!
StanleynotBuckner
New York , NY
Total Comments (19)
The Mets really need this guy. Just sign him already!
EZBowser
Downingtown , PA
Total Comments (31)
SIGN HIM!!! Perez needs to FIRE BORAS!!! get another agent and accept the Mets deal already!! He is not worth more than what the Mets offered. He still has alot of maturing to do, there were a handful of games that the Mets built a big lead, but Perez went out and gave it right back to the other team. Santana needs to instill some more pitching knowledge into Perez' head!
Duppy
New York , NY
Total Comments (4)
It would make too much sense for the Mets to sign Sheets and Manny.. This team works ass backs as always. Which is why we have not won a World Championship since 86. They'd rather load up on cheap after thoughts rather than go for quality. The more this team procrastinates the more I believe the $300 million that the Wilpons were scammed out of has affected their ablity to go after quality players..
SoulxXxAssassin
Altamonte Springs , FL
Total Comments (1)
Perez is so inconsistent that I'd get constipated every time he'd be scheduled to start. The Mets need to change horses and would be better served signing Randy Wolf. Let Perez go elsewhere and let some other team's fans buy the Ex-Lax this year!
Fred1962
Mechanicsburg , PA
Total Comments (12)
lets get manny
schytaxi
Schenectady , NY
Total Comments (3)
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