Perez grateful for chance to be reliever

JUPITER, Fla. -- For Oliver Perez, it's the Mets' equivalent of the Last Chance Saloon: Competing for a spot as a lefty specialist in the bullpen.

Perez will get his first look in his new role Saturday when the Mets visit the Braves. If the Mets are planning to release him, this audition seems fairly pointless, but Perez doesn't look at it that way.

"You never know," he said Thursday. "That can be a really good job for me for now."

Perez allowed seven earned runs in seven innings as a starter. He said manager Terry Collins called him Wednesday to inform him he was not going to be part of the starting rotation.

"Terry told me, 'We want to move you to the bullpen,' " Perez said. "I said, 'It's OK. I'm just thankful for the opportunity you gave me to try to be a starter.' He told me the other guys pitched better than me. I agree. They've been pitching better. That's why I'm going to the bullpen and trying to find a job there."

Perez has held lefthanded batters to a .226 average in his career. In 11 relief appearances, he has an 8.36 ERA.

Players, staff questioned

Investigators from the New York City Police Department and Major League Baseball visited to interview players and staff about former clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels.

Samuels, who was fired by the Mets in November after 27 years with the club, is the subject of an investigation by the Queens District Attorney for alleged links to illegal gambling and using Mets memorabilia for personal gain.

Francisco Rodriguez, who reportedly lived in Samuels' house after his arrest for assaulting his girlfriend's father outside the Citi Field family room last August, was one of the players interviewed.

"They talked to a few players," Rodriguez said. "I wasn't the only one. They asked some random questions . . . "

Waiting for Paulino

Catcher Ronny Paulino is still in the Dominican Republic because of visa issues. "I'm concerned," Collins said. "I'm hoping that he gets in here shortly. We're going to have to do some fast work with him getting him ready to catch." Paulino will have to miss the first eight games of the season as he finishes a 50-game suspension for PED use. . . . Second-base update: Brad Emaus (.133) went 0-for-3 against the Marlins. Luis Castillo (.176) went 0-for-3 as the DH against the Nationals. Daniel Murphy (.276) played all nine innings at second in the Nationals game and went 1-for-5 . . . Mike Pelfrey allowed four runs in four innings against Washington . . . Rule 5 draftee Pedro Beato tossed a scoreless inning against Florida and has a 1.80 ERA.