The Mets had spent weeks trying to convince Oliver Perez that a minor league assignment would be the best thing for him—and for the team. And for weeks Perez resisted, insisting that he had no need for the minor leagues to find his way back to form. But Saturday, when the Mets needed to make a pitching roster move to make room for Jon Niese's return from the disabled list and into the rotation, Perez suddenly was placed on the disabled list with the Mets explaining that he had come to them Friday complaining of knee pain.

So Perez was sent to see one of the Mets team physicians and he underwent an MRI. The diagnosis was patella tendinitis in his right knee and Perez was heading to Florida to begin rehabilitation work.

Posted under mlb

Struggling pitcher Oliver Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday by the New York Mets because of a sudden -- and somewhat convenient -- injury to his right knee. The move was made retroactive to Tuesday, and it solved a roster problem for the Mets. Left-hander Jonathon Niese came off the disabled list to start Saturday against Florida, so New York needed to open a spot for him.

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The deal for Derek Lowe still isnt done. Based on an inside source close to no one, and verified by a source that I just made up, Boras won’t lower Lowe’s asking price and is confident another suitor will emerge, most likely Philly or Boston.

Meanwhile, the Mets, wary of repeating last years mistake of waiting it out for the best player available and neglecting other aspects of the team (namely bullpen) have extended an offer to Tim Redding and have now made Oliver Perez their main target to fill the hole in the rotation. Redding will be merely an insurance arm that may be plugged into the bullpen and pushed into a starting role should Perez struggle.

The longer this years off-season wears on with so much inaction, the more likely we will be stuck with a leftfield platoon of Dan Murphy and Fernando Tatis and a season of watching Luis Castillo limping out to second, hacking at outside pitches and not moving Reyes over in 2009. Oh, goodie.

Posted under Unsubstantiated Rumors

Joel Sherman takes a look a Jerry Manuel’s options for the final 44 games of the season. He’s laid out three interesting options:

Manuel dismissed any lingering patience with his veteran relievers after a loss yesterday that was unacceptable and unfathomable. The Pirates essentially were trying to surrender at Shea, yet the Mets bullpen burned the white flag and another sure victory went up in smoke.

So following a 7-5 loss to Pittsburgh, Manuel said this about who will provide the key outs late in games the rest of this season: “Everything from here on out is a possibility.” Manuel shared some options at a post-game news conference, but The Post has learned all three main scenarios the organization is now mulling:

1. Have Eddie Kunz, who has all of three major league appearances, reprise his Double-A closing role, at least until Billy Wagner returns, which is currently scheduled for Monday. This is the most likely choice.

2. Keep Brian Stokesin the rotation and call upon either John Maine or Oliver Perez to serve as a multi-inning fireman. For now the Mets don’t want to mess with Mike Pelfrey by requesting a rotation-to-pen change.

3. Summon top pitching prospect Jon Niese for the rotation and use Stokes plus either Maine or Perez to serve as the main late-inning relievers.

Kunz, Maine and Perez all said they were game for any assignment. Yet, all of these scenarios are drenched in peril. Kunz lacks experience or a dependable second pitch. Stokes has just one major league start this year and was a culprit last year in a Tampa pen that was one of the worst ever. Maine is only now ready to come off the DL from a strained rotator cuff, so you wonder how his arm would respond to a change in preparation. Perez has been the Mets’ co-best starter with Johan Santana for two months.

It speaks to Manuel’s desperation – and that of his team – that he is considering the radical with 42 games remaining. He said, “We can’t continue to perform this way late in games.” But a loss like yesterday’s is just so demoralizing and the pen problems now are so episodic that Manuel lost his serenity and put all contingency plans on the table.

Finally someone in the Mets organization is ready to face the cold hard facts. Aaron Heilman is ineffective as a closer or even eighth inning work, Pedro Feliciano and Scott Schoeneweis are specialists and not suited to pitch to more than one or two batters and that Joe Smith is over worked and under matched for the role the Mets expect him to play.

Those plans are all valid and logical options for stopping the bleeding. A few thoughts:

-Moving one of the starters to the pen is dicey as robbing Peter to pay Paul doesn’t raise the talent level.

-A better option than Niese replacing Maine or Perez probably would have Niese assigned the role of long reliever. Keep in mind, it the Mets were way in front or out of the race, Niese would be up for a cup of coffee and likely in that role anyway. The Mets desperately need a pitcher that can be called upon to get 6-12 outs per appearence. An attempt to keep him away from situational pressure is offset by the Mets competing in a pennant race in New York in late August and September. The pressure is everywhere.

-For some reason, I think a move to the bullpen might somehow affect the rock of mental stability that is Oliver Perez

-El Duque would be great here, but I have a feeling he’s done for good.

-Kunz in a more substantial role, even closer just makes sense. Even if he blows a save or two, it would have happened anyway with Heilman or Schoeneweis.

-Stokes to the pen probably won’t help much, though it can’t hurt in comparison to recent pen performance.

Bottom line is this team desperately needs an almost complete bullpen overhaul. The three options Sherman has laid out may ease the pen’s workload, but an outside arm is essential. Minaya desperately needs to work a post deadline deal or start signing players off the scrap heap if there is a prayer of saving this season.

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