Perez landed on the DL with a right knee injury in May and underwent season-ending surgery on the knee Sept. 1, so he deserves a little leeway for being hurt. That said, it was a lost season for the left-hander, who came under fire for being out of shape at the end of the WBC and seemingly struggled with his control whenever he took the mound. Given that he's still under contract for two more years, the Mets have little choice but to let him pitch and hope he regains some degree of effectiveness in 2010.

Perez underwent successful removal of scar tissue from the patella tendon of his right knee. The operation was performed by Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Perez is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for 2010 Spring Training.

Santana will have bone chips removed from his left elbow, while Perez will have scar tissue removed from the patella tendon of his left knee. Both lefties are expected to be ready for Spring Training next season. Santana, 30, went 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA in 25 starts for the Mets this season and hasn't pitched since Aug. 20. The 28-year-old Perez, who last pitched Aug. 23, went 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in 14 starts for New York this season.

Perez, who was examined by Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, is expected to fully recover and be ready for Spring Training. To complete New York’s 25-man roster, the team recalled right-hander Lance Broadway from Triple-A Buffalo. Broadway was 5-7 with a 6.27 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) for the Bisons.

Perez clearly got the short end of the stick in what was a battle between former rotation mates with Pedro Martinez on Sunday. The mercurial southpaw got tagged for a pair of homers and needed an eye-popping 47 pitches to record just two outs in an effort that raised his ERA to 6.82 on the year. The erratic left-hander will next toe the rubber on Aug. 28 at Wrigley Field against the Cubs.

A very impressive showing from Perez, who was in line for his third win until Francisco Rodriguez gave up the game in the ninth. Regardless, Perez did his job, going more than six innings for the first time in 11 starts this year. Most important, though, was the good control he exhibited, handing out just the two free passes after walking six, seven, four, six, four and five respectively over his last six starts. He’ll look to continue to build on a still very poor 51/49 K/BB ratio when he gets the nod again on Aug. 12 in Arizona.

Perez continues to allow an astonishing number of baserunners. After Saturday's start, Perez has allowed a jaw-dropping 99 baserunners in 48 2/3 innings, giving him a sky-high 2.04 WHIP. Perez isn't giving up as many runs as his dreadful peripherals -- starting with but not limited to a 44/47 K/BB ratio -- suggest he should be, but that's no reason to start him. His next turn comes on August 6, in San Diego.

A two-month stint on the DL did little to curb Perez's wildness -- he issued seven walks in his return to the mound July 8. Steer clear of the erratic lefty until he shows he can throw strikes on a relatively consistent basis again.

Perez, who missed the last two months with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, looked like his old self in this one, in that his stuff was good -- when he could get it over the plate. As evidenced by the seven free passes he handed out and the 108 pitches (55 strikes) he needed to get through five innings, control issues remain a serious hindrance to his potential. With an unsightly 22/28 K/BB ratio over 26 2/3 innings this year, the veteran lefty will need to gather himself over the All-Star break if he hopes to keep his spot in the Mets rotation going forward.

The Mets' rotation had produced a 5.34 ERA, the highest in the National League, between May 31 and the team's game against the Philliies on Saturday afternoon. Redding's ERA, 6.99 through nine starts and 47 2/3 innings, is to be replaced by the 9.97 Perez produced in 21 2/3 innings before his DL assignment. Redding will be used in relief now. Indeed, he was available to relieve Saturday because he had pitched merely 2 2/3 innings Thursday against the Pirates in what may stand as his final start. When Perez is activated Wednesday, the Mets probably will designate Elmer Dessens for assignment. While Perez's potential has always made him a tantalizing prospect for fantasy owners, he's not worth a roster spot until he shows that he's put his early season struggles all the way behind him.

Perez, who is recovering from patellar tendinitis in his right knee, will be limited to 90 pitches. The Mets lefty pitched well on Sunday for Class A Brooklyn, allowing two hits in five shutout innings, but the team hasn't set a return date in stone as of yet.

Perez pitched well on Sunday for Class A Brooklyn, allowing two hits in five shutout innings, but it is still undecided when Perez will rejoin the Mets. Perez was horrid in brief action with the Mets this season, as his 9.97 ERA and 2.26 WHIP in 21 2/3 innings attest, and the Mets are not likely to rush him back. Fantasy owners know well that Perez's considerable potential as a fantasy starter -- pegged mostly to his strikeout skills -- is matched by his potential as an unsurpassed egg-laying fantasy vexation. He's a long way from being relevant in any format. Tim Redding will likely be the odd man out in the rotation upon Perez's return.

Maine was placed on the disabled list on June 11 with fatigue in his right shoulder. He is eligible to come off the DL on Monday, but the Mets announced earlier in the week that the right-hander would not be ready. Perez has been on the DL since May 7 with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. He had been rehabbing at Triple-A Buffalo in late May before an MRI exam revealed the knee tendinitis. The left-hander threw 48 pitches in an extended spring contest last Thursday. There is no timetable yet for Perez's return.

Perez, on the disabled list since May 7 with right knee tendinitis, threw 48 pitches in his three shutout frames, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out five. His fastball was clocked in the low 90s, the AP said. Rehab coordinator Guy Conti said Perez will pitch again on Tuesday, though he isn't sure if that will come in another extended Spring Training or an actual Minor League game.

The tendinitis in Perez's right knee has diminished somewhat. The plan is to have him pitch in simulated games before he begins pitching in Minor League rehab games. When he rejoins the Mets rotation remains to be seen.