Meet the ex-Mets.
In a spring training dominated by financial troubles more suited for the business section than the sports pages, Mets fans finally got the putouts they wanted as two of the most vilified players in team history were sent packing.
Pitcher Oliver Perez and second baseman Luis Castillo were released by Mets officials after months of speculation and years of fan bellyaching. Both players had recently become a symbol of Met futility, both on and off the field, with speculation about their attitude and willingness to do what’s best for the team.
Castillo was released on Friday, March 18 and has since signed a minor league contract with Met rivals the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies will only pay about $400,000 of the $6 million owed to him this year – with the Mets responsible for the balance.
"This was baseball decision," said Mets general manager Sandy Alderson of the decision to cut the much maligned second baseman. "I met with Terry [Collins] and made a recommendation to Jeff [Wilpon] and Jeff approved on behalf of ownership."
Perez is still a pitcher without a mound, but according to clubhouse interviews, he fully intends to shop his talents around the league. No matter who picks him up, the Mets will pay the remaining $12 million on the troubled lefthander’s contract.
Alderson said that Perez, who had one more year left on his contract, was no longer a viable option, neither as a starter nor as an arm out of the bullpen.
"As I said during the winter our plan was to bring Oliver to Spring Training and give him a chance," said Alderson. "After trying him as a starter and out of the bullpen, we felt that we needed to move in a different direction. Terry [Collins] and I met and I went to Jeff [Wilpon], told him my recommendation and Jeff approved on behalf of ownership."
Perez went 0-5 with a 6.80 ERA in 2010 after going 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in 2009. Overall, the lefthander is 58-69 with a 4.63 ERA during his nine-year major league career with the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and Mets.
