Yes, that Oliver Perez.
You don't want to see Oliver Perez back in a Mets uniform. I don't, either. And even though the Mets' front office has insisted it is not concerned with the perception of the team's fans when making moves, it's hard to imagine they would even consider bringing Perez back.
Perez joined the Mets in 2006 after debuting with the San Diego Padres in 2002 and playing for the Pirates from the middle of the 2003 season until he was traded to the Mets. He was terrible in seven starts for the Mets that year, but he put together a good season in 2007 before pitching to a 4.22 ERA and 100 ERA+ in 34 starts with the Mets in 2008.
He signed his three-year, $36 million deal after that season, but he was dreadful and didn't pitch much in 2009 and 2010. By the end of his tenure in Queens, Perez was relegated to the bullpen and was almost never used in games. With declining velocity, to boot, Perez was cut by the Mets in the final year of his contract and out of Major League Baseball in 2011.
The Seattle Mariners signed Perez in 2012, though, and he excelled as a lefty specialist out of their bullpen. In 33 appearances, he posted a 2.12 ERA and 181 ERA+ and limited opponents to 0.3 home runs per nine innings, a rate far below his career numbers, as his average fastball velocity was a career-high 93.2 miles per hour. In 2013, his home run rate returned to normal, his velocity dipped to 91.7 miles per hour, and he was just decent, with a 3.74 ERA and 99 ERA+ in 61 appearances. He was very good against left-handed hitters in both seasons.
As far as next year goes, Perez has been linked to the Nationals and Orioles in rumors this offseason. With Scott Rice set to be the Mets' primary left-handed relief pitcher, adding depth sounds like a good idea, but Perez will likely land a major league deal.
