The Mets were insane to give 28-year old lefty starting pitcher Oliver Perez a lot of cash over the winter. He has never had the control to take advantage of his stuff and his wildness has returned in a big way this season. Perez has started 14 games for the Mets this season and he is 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP. In 66 innings for the Mets this season, Perez has walked 58 batters and allowed 12 dingers. On the bright side, Perez has walked 62 batters but he needs to throw more strikes and quit trying to whiff everyone. Until he can do that he will not succeed in the majors ever again.

UPDATE: Oliver Perez will miss the rest of the 2009 season due to recent knee surgery.

33-year old switch hitting 2B Luis Castillo was looking like he was toast after two injured filled seasons for the Mets. But, as other players are falling like flies Castillo has risen from the ashes to have a great season. Castillo has played in 114 games for the Mets this season and he is 119 for 382 (.312 avg, .766 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 1 homer, 34 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Castillo has been a beacon of light in a very dark season for the New York Mets.

The Mets will be without 30-year old lefty starting pitcher Johan Santana for the rest of the season after he underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs from his left elbow. Santana pitched in 25 games (all starts) for the Mets this season and he was 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. In two years with the Mets now, Santana has pitched in 59 games (all starts) in which he is 29-16 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. The doctors say that Santana will be ready for spring training so it was smart to shut him down.

The Mets have traded 38-year old lefty reliever Billy Wagner to the Red Sox for two players to be named later. Wagner pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Mets this season and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP. Wagner missed most of this season while recovering from Tommy John Surgery. He lost his closer’s spot to Francisco Rodriguez in the off-season so it’s likely better that he pitch for another team as he wouldn’t be happy in a set-up role. Wagner pitched in 183 games (0 starts) in 4 years with the Mets and he was 5-5 with 101 saves, a 2.37 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He whiffed 203 batters and only allowed 146 hits in 189 2/3 innings for the Mets during his time there. This move will help Wagner as he might get another chance to pitch in the playoffs for the Red Sox.

The Mets have designated 32-year old righty swinging infielder Andy Green for assignment. Green played in 47 games in the minors this season and he was 41 for 159 (.258 avg, .723 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 4 homers, 18 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Green also played in 4 games for the Mets this season and he was 1 for 4 (.250 avg, .650 OPS). The Mets needed room on the roster for lefty pitcher Pat Misch and that’s the reason that Green lost his spot.