With Mets pitchers and catchers reporting in less than two weeks, the Mets and free agent Oliver Perez continue to wait each other out.
Scott Boras, who represents Perez, reportedly wants as much as a five-year deal for Perez. The Mets are not expected to extend an offer of that length, content that there's no other identifiable suitor who is interested in offering Perez a guaranteed contract through 2013. Mets officials continue to believe they have leverage in the negotiations. Even with Jon Garland signing with the Diamondbacks, Ben Sheets and Randy Wolf remain free agents.
While Wolf's reps and the Dodgers have had multiple discussions in the last week, his agent, Arn Tellem, remains in contact with the Mets and isn't off the board yet.
Mets officials privately say they don't intend to offer Sheets a two-year deal after reviewing his medical reports, but Sheets hasn't yet been able to secure a multi-year deal elsewhere. So the former Brewer remains in the running as an alternative to Perez.
Perez is only 27, so his best days might be ahead. He made 34 starts for the Mets last season, going 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA while logging 194 innings.
He held Philadelphia, the Mets' chief rival, to one earned run in 26 innings during the 2008 season. Overall, the southpaw held left-handed batters to a .158 average, best in the National League.
Perez is on Mexico's provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic.
