15 worst free agent signings in Mets history

1) NY Mets worst free agent signing: Oliver Perez

At least Oliver Perez wasn’t hurting teammates? Regardless of those brownie points, the worst free agent signing the Mets ever made was reuniting with the still active in 2022 lefty.

Perez first joined the Mets in mid-2006 where he was downright awful. In 7 starts after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Perez was 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA. It was an omen.

Because he was under contract, the Mets proceeded with the promising young lefty starter. He was much better in 2007, making 29 starts and going 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA. He was a little worst in 2008, going 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA but he did lead the league with 34 starts. The team decided they would re-sign him to a three-year deal worth $36 million. How bad could he possibly be?

Perez went 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in his first 14 starts in 2009. By 2010, the deal was a complete failure. Perez was 0-5 with a 6.80 ERA in 7 starts and another 10 relief appearances. The Mets, with $12 million still owed to him for 2011, released him prior to the 2011 season.

Perez would famously reinvent himself as a left-handed reliever in 2012 with the Seattle Mariners. A decade later, it has been a role he has maintained for better or worse.

Mets fans, though, will remember him most for how bad of a free agent signing he was.