On Monday, New York Mets pitcher Oliver Perez refused a Minor League assignment to Triple-A Buffalo – as allowed by his contract. His ineffectiveness may be causing friction within the clubhouse.

One Mets player said, “You tell him you go to Triple-A or that’s it, you are finished,”

Another Mets player said, At some point you have to cut bait,” he said. “You owe him a lot of money, but for what?” Despite that player’s suggestion, Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated said Perez will not be released.

Perez is currently owed about $20 million on a three-year contract that he signed before the 2009 season. He’s stuck in pitching purgatory. He’s out of the rotation and he’s doing worse in the bullpen. He is currently 0-3 with a 6.25 ERA, but he has a 10.13 ERA in the bullpen.

“I want to keep doing the same, keep working,” Perez said. “I feel better. I know it’s hard being in the bullpen and coming in the games, so I have to get used to it. I know everything is going to get back.”

The Mets overall concern is that he’s expensive, unproductive and worst of all he’s taking up a roster spot that could be used for a more effective player.

Information from Mike Puma of the New York Post was used in this article.