From JOEL SHERMAN

The Mets, according to a person briefed on negotiations, floated the idea of a four-year, $44 million deal for Oliver Perez or doing a three-year deal with an option that would have been worth $44 million in total if the option were picked up. But, according to this source, Perez and his agent, Scott Boras, decided it would be better to take a three-year, $36 million deal rather than add $8 million to get to $44 million for two reasons:

1. They preferred the $12 million annual average value over the $11 million, even if it did come with an extra year.

2. That is because they were not crazy about the extra year. On a three-year contract, Perez goes back into the free-agent market after the 2011 season at just 30 years old. At that point — if he matures on the mound — he might be able to go back into a better economic market as a prime-aged, top-of-the-rotation figure.