FORT LAUDERDALE – In a surprising move, the Mets have outrighted Hideo Nomo to Triple-A Norfolk, and Nomo has until Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to decide if he will accept the demotion. One thing is certain, he will not make his scheduled start tonight and his future with the Mets, if not in the majors, is very much in doubt.
Steve Phillips went to Nomo’s house in Port St. Lucie yesterday with translator Kota Ishijima and explained the process that they began on Monday by putting Nomo on the waiver wire.
Phillips said Nomo took the news professionally and had questions about all the complicated rules involved. Who doesn’t?
If Nomo decides to accept the demotion to Norfolk, he will still earn his $2.925 million salary. The Mets would then have the option of releasing him before Wednesday, and would then owe him only one-fourth of his salary.
Clearly, no one wants a minor-league pitcher earning almost $3 million, so it is safe to say the Mets are hoping Nomo decides not to accept the assignment and thereby relinquishes his claim to his contract. He would then become a free agent.
“It’s not a slam dunk that he will be released,” Phillips said. “We are strongly considering him to pitch in Norfolk and then [have him help] the major league team later on.”
Phillips would not say whether or not a replacement would come from inside or outside the organization. The Mets made an offer for Orel Hershiser, but had not heard back last night. Phillips is also trying to trade for a pitcher.
Earlier this week it had been thought the Mets would put Nomo on release waivers, which would have meant that even if Nomo wasn’t claimed by another team, he would no longer be Mets property.
But Nomo was put on the irrevocable outright waiver wire Monday afternoon and cleared yesterday when no other team claimed him. None was willing to take on his salary. It is still possible a team could try and trade for Nomo and try to get the Mets to foot some of the bill.
The timing of the move, a week before the cutoff date for releasing him, is similar to the timing of the Paul Wilson demotion. Nomo was scheduled to start tonight against the Expos in Jupiter and if he had been injured, the team would have had to pay the full amount.
If Wilson had injured his elbow before being demoted, he would have been on the major league disabled list all season and would have been eligible for arbitration next year because of it.
Nomo’s agent Don Nomura said yesterday he and his client had not decided what they will do. Even if Nomo goes to Norfolk, the Mets can still release him.
“Whatever happens,” Nomura said, “We have to abide by the rules.”
Nomura spoke with Nomo several times yesterday, including during the player’s workout back in Port St. Lucie. Phillips said Nomura was improperly notified by another team that Nomo was on waivers, and did not seem happy about it.
Nomo did not make the trip to Fort Lauderdale for the game against the Orioles last night, and was unavailable for comment.
