I know I addressed this topic last month, but Oliver Perez is still out there looking for a job and Oliver Perez's agent is still out there looking for a huge contract. So, I'd like to revisit his agent's arguments, via Craig Brown's piece in the Hardball Times:
Perez is represented by Scott Boras. (Seriously, when is Boras going to represent internet baseball writers?) So it should come as no surprise that Perez is reportedly seeking a five-year deal worth around $70 million. By comparison, previous members of the second-tier club earned much less. Meche signed a five-year, $55 million deal and Lilly was inked to a four-year, $40 million package. Lohse (also represented by Boras) couldn't find a buyer last winter and signed a bargain basement deal at $4.25 million for one year with the Cardinals. Apparently, St. Louis liked his production, so they extended him to four years at a total of $41 million last September.
Since Boras is involved, teams that are interested in signing the lefty can expect to get a spiffy binder showcasing his talents. Obviously, the purpose of the binder is to sell the player to the prospective team, so it takes a little digging to get to past the sales job to find the truth. The New York Times "Bats" blog actually got their mitts on the presentation package for Perez.
According to the Times, the binder contains eight chapters extolling the virtues of Perez. Let's take a look at a few of those claims and see if they hold any truth.
Summarizing those claims and Brown's analysis:
1. Perez is durable: True.
2. Perez is an innings eater: False, but not grossly exaggerated.
3. Perez's career to this point is similar to Sandy Koufax's: Outrageous.
4. Perez is one of the five best left-handed pitchers in the majors: Absurd.
Craig Brown doesn't address this, but another of the chapters is titled, "Dominates on the Biggest Stage." I don't have the binder, so I can't say exactly what that means. The biggest stage might be the World Series, except it can't be that because Perez has never pitched in a World Series. It might be postseason baseball in general, except it's probably not that because Perez has pitched in only two postseason games, and while he pitched well in
one of those games, he didn't pitch well at all in
the other. The biggest stage might be New York, except Perez's performance since joining the Mets has been merely good (if certainly better than his pre-Mets performance).
Scott Boras employs plenty of whip-smart people, and I always wonder how they feel about putting together these binders that are loaded with lousy analysis and specious claims. I don't mean to suggest that it's morally wrong. It just seems like a strange way to spend one's days.
As for Perez, did you know he's spent his entire career pitching half his games in pitcher-friendly ballparks? He joined the Padres as a rookie in 2002, their last season in Qualcomm Stadium, an excellent park for pitchers. Perez pitched poorly for the Padres in 2003, and in late August was traded (with
Jason Bay) to the Pirates for
Brian Giles. Pittsburgh's PNC Park is also a friendly place for pitchers. Perez pitched poorly for the Pirates in 2005 and 2006, and in late July '06 was traded to the Mets. New York's Shea Stadium, year in and year out, has been a pitcher's park.
Perez's career ERA when pitching at home is 4.12. Not Sandy Koufax, perhaps. But in today's environment, not bad. His ERA in road games, though? 4.70, which really is bad. Or close to bad. There's a reason you haven't heard much this month about Perez signing a big contract: teams are getting smarter. Those binders that Scott Boras so carefully compiles? I don't think they're meant to convince the teams. I think they're meant to convince the players that Boras is earning his commission.
Rob Neyer
