ATLANTA — After agonizing over it for two days, the Mets yesterday finally decided Oliver Perez will have to fight his way back from the bullpen.
The move became official yesterday when the struggling left-hander was demoted to specialized relief and 40-year-old Japanese import Ken Takahashi took Perez’s spot in the rotation.
The first of what manager Jerry Manuel said would be several starts for Takahashi is scheduled to come Friday at Citi Field against the Pirates.
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The Mets would have preferred Perez work out his problems in the minor leagues after he produced a 1-2 start and 9.97 ERA following the $36 million deal he landed in the offseason.
But Perez would have had to accept a minor-league reassignment because he has at least five years of major-league service. When Perez made it clear Sunday he would not be willing to do that, the Mets had little choice but to make him a reliever.
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“Right now, we felt [a move to the bullpen] was the right decision and the right course,” GM Omar Minaya said yesterday before the Mets opened a two-game series here against the Braves.
Leaving Perez in the rotation became out of the question after he allowed four runs on five hits and six walks in a season-low 2 1/3 innings Saturday in Philadelphia.
The Mets could have put Perez on the disabled list after he started complaining of a sore right knee after a dreadful outing Saturday in Philadelphia, but opted against it.
“The medical people didn’t feel that was anything that would warrant a missed start or a DL,” Manuel said.
Minaya said the Mets did not ask Perez or his agent, Scott Boras, about a minor-league assignment, but that appeared to be mostly semantics on Minaya’s part because Perez was so adamant Sunday in his opposition to being sent down.
Minaya, however, admitted he is “not ruling out” a request for Perez to work out his problems in the minors if Perez continues to struggle in relief.
Perez declined to speak to reporters before yesterday’s game, telling a team PR representative he didn’t feel like talking about the situation.
Manuel made it sound as if Perez’s chances to prove himself in games will be sparse.
The ideal situation to use Perez, Manuel said, would be against a left-handed hitter in a scenario where first base was open and walking that batter wouldn’t hurt.
Perez’s first relief appearance most likely will come here tonight or in the two-game series with the Phillies that starts tomorrow at Citi Field.
“He won’t be the first guy I call, there’s no question about that,” Manuel said. “At the same time, you’ve got to be cognizant not to bury him in the ‘pen. It will be a tough challenge for us as a staff to make sure, try to get him back on track.”
Nor will Perez’s trip to the bullpen be a short one, Manuel said, especially with the Mets intrigued by Takahashi after his 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief Saturday in his Amazin’ debut.
“Ollie’s not going to go down to the ‘pen and get in there just a couple times unless he’s lights out,” the manager said.
Aside from balking at the minor-league assignment, Perez took the demotion well, according to the Mets’ version of events.
“He knows that something has to be done,” Manuel said. “We’re in New York. The whole idea is to win, so if you’re not doing the job, regardless of who you are or what you’ve done, you’re out of here. You’ve got to get the job done.”