PHILADELPHIA — The Mets got an unscheduled off day here yesterday due to the rain, but they remain in a fix when it comes to Oliver Perez.
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The struggling left-hander’s status stayed cloudy after Perez apparently balked at a trip to the minor leagues that the Mets hoped would enable him to salvage a season already gone terribly wrong.
The Mets are set to take Perez’s spot in the rotation away after yet another terrible start Saturday, when he allowed four runs on five hits and six walks in a season-low 2 1/3 innings of their eventual 6-5 loss to the Phillies in 10 innings.
The wrench in the Mets’ plans is that Perez — who has a 9.97 ERA to go with his 1-2 record — must consent to a minor league assignment because he has more than five years of major league service time.
Perez told reporters after Saturday’s disaster that he would be willing to accept a stint in the minors to work out his problems.
But the fresh recipient of a three-year, $36 million contract from the Mets backtracked abruptly yesterday.
“I can’t say yet,” Perez replied when asked if he would go to the minors. Asked why he had appeared to change his mind overnight, Perez said: “I was frustrated [when the Saturday comment was made]. Every pitcher can say that, because that was a tough day for me and I can say anything. Today, I feel a little more relaxed.”
Perez, who was demoted by the Pirates in 2006 after a similarly wretched start, also could be headed to the disabled list after revealing he has been bothered by a sore right knee that he aggravated during Saturday’s game.
A DL trip would offer the Mets a convenient way to avoid a showdown with Perez and his notoriously difficult agent, Scott Boras, over a demotion to the minors.
It also would allow them to avoid having Perez disrupt their bullpen.
“The knee has been bothering me all season,” Perez said yesterday. “I don’t feel good sometimes with that.”
Jerry Manuel told reporters after the series finale with the Phillies was officially postponed (with no makeup date announced) that the Mets will announce Perez’s status today in Atlanta, where they are set to begin a two-game set with the Braves.
Manuel, though, all but conceded Perez’s rotation spot has been yanked by saying he would be willing to use Perez in relief tomorrow in Atlanta or Wednesday or Thursday against the Phillies when the rivalry reverts to Citi Field.
Manuel also reiterated that the team is strongly considering making 40-year-old Japanese import Ken Takahashi a starter in place of Perez after Takahashi pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief Saturday.
Takahashi, a lefty like Perez, was a starter in the Japanese League as recently as last season, but would be limited to a maximum of 75 pitches early on if the Mets put him in the rotation right away.
“He’s not [stretched out], but you know me, I could throw him out there,” Manuel said of Takahashi. “I was impressed with Takahashi. That was a find for us [Saturday].”
The Mets pushed back their rotation due to the rainout, so Perez’s turn won’t come up again until Friday against the Pirates at Citi Field.
The only thing that appeared certain yesterday was that Perez won’t be on the mound Friday to face his old team.
“He’s discouraged, he’s disappointed in his performance,” Manuel said. “He has not been himself. We’ve got to do everything we can to get the old Ollie back, and that’s basically what we’re trying to do — find the old Ollie.”
bhubbuch@nypost.com