page_title: Óliver Pérez
section_title: New York Mets
hierarchical_section_title: Óliver Pérez / Professional career / New York Mets
caption_attribution_description: Óliver Pérez
context_page_description: Óliver Pérez Martínez is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals. He has also competed for the Mexican national baseball team in the 2006, 2009, and 2013 World Baseball Classics.
context_section_description: On July 31, 2006, Pérez and Roberto Hernández were traded to the New York Mets in exchange for Xavier Nady. The Mets assigned Pérez to their AAA affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. He was recalled to the Mets' major league roster on August 26, 2006. After two subpar starts, Pérez threw a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a doubleheader on September 6.
  After the Mets lost two starting pitchers to injury in the final week before the playoffs started, they were forced to use Pérez in the playoff rotation. His first playoff start came in Game 4 of the NLCS, in which he picked up his first career postseason win. His second playoff start came in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS vs. the Cardinals. He pitched six innings in, allowing one ER, and was on the mound for Endy Chavez's famous catch. The Mets eventually lost the game 3–1.
  Entering the 2007 season, there were concerns about the Mets' pitching staff and whether Pérez could live up to his potential. However, Pérez finished the 2007 season 15–10 with a 3.56 ERA, striking out 174 in 177 innings pitched, while walking 79 (7th-most in the NL).
  In the 2008 season, Pérez was inconsistent, posting a record of 10–7 with a 4.22 ERA. He was also prone to big innings striking at any moment. An example was in a start against the San Francisco Giants, he went ​¹⁄₃ of an inning allowing 5 hits and 6 runs, all of them earned. An example of his dominance was his start against the New York Yankees on June 29. Pérez went 7 innings allowing just one run on a home run by Wilson Betemit, striking out a season-high 8 batters. After the firing of manager Willie Randolph, Pérez pitched better. At the request of Pedro Martínez and pitching coach Dan Warthen, he changed his delivery to the plate. Instead of letting his head hang down when he made his delivery, he made a bowing motion.  He led the majors in walks, with 105, and was 10th in the NL in wild pitches, with 9. His 17 no decisions were the most among MLB starting pitchers in 2008. 
  On February 3, 2009, the Mets signed Pérez to a three-year $36 million deal. On May 6, Pérez was put on the disabled list due to patellar tendinitis in his right leg. He returned to the rotation on July 8, 2009. On August 26, Pérez was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis in his right knee and underwent season-ending surgery.  He finished the season 3–4 with a 6.82 ERA.
  On May 15, 2010, manager Jerry Manuel moved Pérez to the bullpen.  Pérez refused a minor league assignment to work on his pitching, despite both his poor play and repeated attempts by the Mets' front office.
  On June 5, 2010, the Mets placed Pérez on the 15-day DL due to patella tendinitis of his right knee.  As Pérez was placed on the DL soon after refusing an assignment to the minor leagues a second time, the league investigated the timing of the DL stint, later clearing it. After July 21, Pérez made only six appearances, all in relief.  Pérez finished the 2010 season 0-5, with a 6.80 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched. 
  The Mets unconditionally released Pérez on March 21, 2011, still responsible for the remaining $12 million on his contract.
caption: Pérez pitching for the New York Mets in 2010
exif: {}