I'm sorry, I refuse to believe that the Mets are the only team pursuing free-agent pitcher Oliver Perez, who is 27, left-handed and highly talented, if erratic.
Unfortunately, I can't name which teams are chasing Perez; only his agent, Scott Boras, knows, and he isn't telling.
Here, though, are some possibilities:
Nationals: A low-rent version of the Yankees, the Nats have pursued several top free agents this offseason, most notably Boras' biggest prize, Mark Teixeira.
The Nats already have two lefties in its rotation — Scott Olsen and John Lannan — but Perez could be a long-term fixture while the team develops its young pitchers.
Angels: Hello? Are you out there? Manny Ramirez is the player the Angels need most, but they're also talking about righty Dustin Moseley as their fifth starter.
Should be interested in Perez. No sign that they are.
Brewers: In dire need of starting pitching as they face the losses of CC Sabathia and, most likely, Ben Sheets. Righty Braden Looper, however, is their only known target.
Cardinals: They lack a left-handed starter, and earlier this offseason they pondered adding a young pitcher with upside — someone like Perez or their own Kyle Lohse.
St. Louis still might trade an outfielder, but even then they probably would not be willing or able to make the necessary financial commitment to Perez.
Rangers: Stuck with the inflated contracts of Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla, they've rejected Boras' overtures on Perez.
"We're 100 percent not in it," one club official says.
Which leaves the Mets.
Perez remains at the top of their list, but the Mets want him for three years, not the five that Boras supposedly desires.
The Mets know all of Perez's warts — in particular, his high walk rate. But they also know that Perez can handle New York, that he has a 2.06 ERA against the Phillies the past two seasons and that their rotation would be significantly weaker without him.
Lefty Randy Wolf ranks behind Perez for the Mets, followed by righties Ben Sheets, Jon Garland and Pedro Martinez. The team's plan is to sign one quality starter and back him up with a cheaper alternative such as righty Freddy Garcia.
Wolf would be more inexpensive than Perez, perhaps only commanding a one-year deal in the range of $6 million to $8 million with a club option.
MLB Hot Stove
Pirates general manager Neal Huntington credits the work and support of team chairman Bob Nutting for the team's increased stability. The Pirates, thanks to the introduction of new value packages, actually are on pace to meet their season-ticket goals.
"We will not need to move payroll," Huntington says.
The Pirates' new season-ticket packages go for $399, $599, $799 and $999. The $399 plan comes out to less than $5 per game, the $799 plan to less than $10 per game.
Around the horn
Here's a sinister thought: Varitek to the Yankees. The chances probably are slim, but the Yankees need to add a catcher due to their uncertainty over Jorge Posada, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. Varitek, 36, might recoil at the notion of joining the Red Sox's biggest rival, and the Yankees might prefer to spend on pitching. But because the Yankees already have signed three other Type-A free agents, Varitek would cost them only a fourth-round pick ...
Correction to an item that appeared in my previous notes column: Both Jeremy Reed and Cory Sullivan have minor-league options remaining, meaning that the Mets can demote either or both to Class AAA without risk of losing them on waivers. Reed and Sullivan are similar players, reserve outfielders who bat from the left side. The Mets signed Sullivan after trading for Reed with the goal of adding more depth ...
And finally, a fond farewell to second baseman Jeff Kent, who should be a near-lock for the Hall of Fame. Kent's 351 home runs as a second baseman far outdistance Ryne Sandberg, who is the next player on that list with 277. Kent's eight 100-RBI seasons also are the most by a second baseman, and Dodgers GM Ned Colletti — an executive with Kent's teams in both Los Angeles and San Francisco — says, "He was as clutch a player as anybody you'll see."
Author's Website:http://www.foxsports.com
Added: January 22, 2009
