PHILADELPHIA — The Mets had no better idea of what to do next with Oliver Perez last night than they did before his latest rehab start.
Pitching for Triple-A Buffalo, Perez gave up three runs on five hits (including a home run) and four walks in five-plus innings against Rochester, showing his typical lack of control along the way.
The loopy left-hander had four strikeouts, but he threw just half of his 92 pitches for strikes.
The Mets still might bring Perez off the disabled list to replace the ineffective Tim Redding in the rotation, but that decision appeared to be up in the air after last night’s uneven showing.
Also factoring in the decision: Perez’s first start would be Wednesday at Citi Field against Manny Ramirez and the potent Dodgers.
“I’ve got to take in . . . all that took place, and velocity and those types of things,” Jerry Manuel said.
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Mets fans continue to push for a big trade, but, listening to general manager Omar Minaya talk before last night’s 7-2 loss to the Phillies, that sounds unlikely to happen anytime soon.
On the plus side, Minaya said he has been given permission by management to add to the club’s NL-high $143 million budget. That would make the Mets an attractive trading partner to the numerous teams experiencing economic stress this summer.
But Minaya said the Mets’ expectation that Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado will return by early August is limiting their interest in a big trade.
“It’s fair to say that, if we’re looking for reinforcements right now, some of our DL guys are probably going to be the reinforcements,” Minaya said. “If we can get all our guys back healthy, our healthy guys, its going to be hard to make trades that are going to be better than Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado.”
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David Wright admittedly could use a day off, but Wright said he has every intention of playing in the All-Star Game later this month if — as expected — he is voted in.
Wright leads the fan balloting at third base for the July 14 game in St. Louis by a wide margin.
“I always want to play in the All-Star Game,” he said. “It’s an incredible honor. Hopefully, I get that opportunity this year and in years to come.”