Yankees' Cashman: 'No Interest' In Ex-Met Perez
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- The Mets wanted Oliver Perez gone so badly, they're paying him $12 million dollars not to pitch at Citi Field.
How would he fare at Yankee Stadium?
WFAN and SI's Jon Heyman first reported the Yankees' internal discussions on signing Perez as a cheap option. However, according to GM Brian Cashman, New York will pass on the erratic lefty.
"Randy Levine asked me to look into it," Cashman said on Tuesday. "I have no interest."
On Monday, the Mets chose to absorb the remaining salary on Perez's $36 million, three-year contract rather than keep a pitcher who has been ineffective in trying to make the team as a reliever.
"I think it was additional evidence that from his standpoint the velocity was not there, the command was not there," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said, referring to Saturday's outing. "It wasn't going to work in a starting role. It didn't appear as if it were going to work in a relief role, at least any time soon. We are getting down toward the end of spring training so we felt it was time to make a decision."
Perez's release came three days after the team cut second baseman Luis Castillo, who was signed Monday by the rival Philadelphia Phillies.
"When they told me, I almost knew they were going to tell me," Perez said. "It's one of those times I don't feel great, but I'm not going to quit. I think I've got more (to my) career, and I'm going to hope (for) the best."
The pitcher's effectiveness slowly diminished after a 15-win 2007 season, and his velocity has been down since undergoing right knee surgery in 2009. Perez was 1-6 in seven starts to begin last season before being moved to the bullpen. He went on the disabled list with patella tendinitis in his right knee on June 5 and made just six appearances the rest of the season.
Yankees fans: How about giving Perez a shot in pinstripes? Sound off in the comments below...
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