ATLANTA — The Mets announced today that Oliver Perez has been moved to the bullpen. Ken Takahashi will take his place in the rotation. The Mets would have preferred Perez work out his problems in the minor leagues after he produced a 1-2 start and 9.97 ERA following the $36 million deal he landed in the offseason.

But Perez would have had to accept a minor-league reassignment because he has at least five years of major-league service time. When Perez made it clear Sunday that he would not be willing to do that, the Mets had little choice but to make him a reliever.

“Right now, we felt [a move to the bullpen] was the right decision and the right course,” GM Omar Minaya said before the Mets opened a two-game series here against the Braves.

Leaving Perez in the rotation became out of the question after he allowed four runs on five hits and six walks in a season-low 2 1/3 innings Saturday in Philadelphia.

The Mets could have put Perez on the disabled list after he started complaining of a sore right knee after a dreadful outing Saturday in Philadelphia, but opted against it.

“The medical people didn’t feel that was anything that would warrant a missed start or a DL,” Manuel said.

Minaya said the Mets did not ask Perez or his agent, Scott Boras, about a minor-league assignment, but that appeared to be mostly semantics on Minaya’s part because Perez was so adamant Sunday in his opposition to being sent down.

Minaya, however, admitted he is “not ruling out” a request for Perez to work his problems out in the minors if Perez continues to struggle in a relief role.

Perez declined to speak to reporters before the game, telling a team PR representative that he didn’t feel like talking about the situation.

Manuel made it sound as if Perez’s chances to prove himself in games will be sparse.

The ideal situation to use Perez, Manuel said, would be against a left-handed hitter in a scenario where first base was open and walking that batter wouldn’t hurt.

Perez’s first relief appearance most likely will come here or in the two-game series with the Phillies at Citi Field.

“He won’t be the first guy I call, there’s no question about that,” Manuel said. “At the same time, you’ve got to be cognizant not to bury him in the ‘pen. It will be a tough challenge for us as a staff to make sure, try to get him back on track.”

Nor will Perez’s trip to the bullpen be a short one, Manuel said, especially with the Mets intrigued by Takahashi after his 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief last Saturday in his Amazin’s debut.

“Ollie’s not going to go down to the ‘pen and get in there just a couple times unless he’s lights out,” the manager said.

Aside from balking at the minor-league assignment, Perez took the demotion well, according to the Mets’ version of events.

“He knows that something has to be done,” Manuel said. “We’re in New York. The whole idea is to win, so if you’re not doing the job, regardless of who you are or what you’ve done, you’re out of here. You’ve got to get the job done.”