Three-fifths of the 2004 Dodger starting rotation, covered in one night ...

From the Isn't Free Agency Confusing to Everyone Department:

Odalis Perez is under the impression the Mets need a starting pitcher and that he will meet with general manager Omar Minaya to discuss a contract this week. Neither is true.

But Mets officials said Minaya has no plans to visit the Dominican this week and the team is not interested in Perez. The Mets have their rotation in place with Tom Glavine, Kris Benson, Victor Zambrano and Steve Trachsel behind Martinez.

- Peter Abraham, The Journal News (N.Y.)

Peter Botte of the New York Daily News does console Perez with the knowledge that this could change, that the Mets could still come a callin' while entertaining the thought of trading Trachsel to the Dodgers.

Trachsel, oft-considered The Slowest Working Man in Show Biz based on the amount of time he takes between pitches - a Human Rain Delay for the 21st century - nevertheless has rehabilitated his career from a mid-run dip to post three consecutive above-average seasons: 3.91 (116 ERA+), 4.24 (112 ERA+), 4.27 (107 ERA+). On the down side, Trachsel is already 34, will make roughly as much money in 2005 as Perez will (they made the same $5 million salary in 2004) and has a strikeout rate lower than Perez.