PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets could be headed to an arbitration hearing for the first time since they faced off with David Cone in 1992.
A hearing between the Mets and left-handed starter Oliver Perez is scheduled for next week in St. Petersburg. The two sides might reach that dramatic point because contract talks are sputtering.
Perez, coming off a terrific 2007 season that saw him go 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA, is requesting $6.5 million — a huge bump from his $2.35 million salary last year. The Mets have offered $4.725 million.
Perez, who filed early last month, likely will be the Mets’ fourth starter. He also is their last arbitration-eligible player this year after newly acquired outfielder Ryan Church signed a one-year, $2 million deal last week.
The Mets are adept at avoiding arbitration, but Perez is represented by famously hard-ball agent Scott Boras. Talks are ongoing, but the team is increasingly pessimistic about a deal beforehand because Boras — unlike many agents — relishes arbitration.
The Mets also aren’t optimistic about keeping Perez off the open market after this season because Boras is famous for taking his players into free agency. Perez likely will cash in with another good year, especially with the premium being paid to pitchers after new teammate Johan Santana’s record-setting, $137.5 million deal.
“I like New York City,” Perez said yesterday when asked if he wanted to stay a Met long-term. “It’s a really good city, a really good team. But everybody understands baseball. When we get to that situation, we’ll have to decide.”
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Catcher Brian Schneider, acquired with Church from the Nationals this offseason in the Lastings Milledge trade, reported a day early and worked out with several pitchers.
Schneider, who favors the hockey-style goalie helmet behind the plate, didn’t need to drive far to report. He lives roughly an hour south in Palm Beach Gardens.
Schneider, tasked with replacing Brooklyn-born fan favorite Paul Lo Duca, said Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson sent copious videotape of the team’s pitchers this offseason so Schneider could get a head start.
“Even so, I’ve got my work cut out for me this spring – there’s no doubt about it,” Schneider said. “I’ve got a lot of stuff to learn. There’s going to be long days, watching every pitcher in every game and talking with the coaches.” *
Perez, David Wright, John Maine and Duaner Sanchez took part in informal workouts here yesterday morning before heavy rain arrived.
The Mets have re-configured the outfield fences on some of their diamonds in the Tradition Field complex to mimic the outfield at Citi Field when it opens next year.