Want to go to Opening Day at Citi Field? Here’s your chance.

The Mets today announced the launch of an online registration for the opportunity to purchase tickets for the inaugural Opening Day at Citi Field starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Mets.com and LosMets.com.

The registration for the online random drawing will run through Feb. 24. The Mets open their 2009 home season Monday, April 13 against the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.

All fans registering now on Mets.com or LosMets.com automatically will be eligible for the random drawing. There is no fee and no purchase necessary to register. There is a limit of one entry per person. In the case of multiple entries for the same individual, only one entry received will be entered. There is no assurance that any particular registrant will be selected. Opportunities to purchase tickets are non-transferable.

Registration for the drawing closes Tuesday, February 24 at 11:59 p.m. A limited number of fans will be selected in the online random drawing and will be notified via e-mail by Feb. 27 with instructions regarding the online purchase of up to four (4) tickets. Tickets start at $27 each and must be purchased with a major credit card. Per ticket and per order fees will apply.

Season Tickets featuring Opening Day are on sale now at Mets.com and LosMets.com. Information regarding the sale of single game tickets for the inaugural 2009 Mets home season at Citi Field will be announced shortly.

Johan Santana tested his surgically repaired left knee today, throwing off a mound for the first time since last season.

Santana said he might meet with general manager Omar Minaya as soon as this weekend to make a decision about pitching in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela next month.

“I would love to play but I’m not going to go against any decisions (the Mets) make,” Santana told the Associated Press. “I’m an employee here and I have to listen to what they have to say. It’s a very important season for us and I’m a very important part of this team. I’m not going to do anything crazy.”

Santana threw 18 pitches to a catcher set up in front of home plate. He also participated in conditioning drills without reporting any discomfort.

“I feel fine,” Santana said. “I was excited to get on the mound. It’s time to play baseball. It’s what I’ve been waiting for. Today was my first day on the mound, so I was just trying to get a feel for it.”
Santana went 16-7 last year with a major league-best 2.53 ERA in his first season with the Mets. He had arthroscopic surgery Oct. 1 on torn cartilage in his left knee.

Oliver Perez and the Mets have reached a preliminary agreement on a $36 million, three-year contract, the Associated Press is reporting.

The deal is subject to the pitcher passing a physical, a person familiar with the talks says, speaking on condition of anonymity because today’s agreement wasn’t final.

The Mets had offered Derek Lowe — another client of agent Scott Boras — a $36 million, three-year contract, but Lowe accepted a $60 million, five-year offer from Atlanta. In addition to Lowe, the Mets also held talks with agents for Tim Redding and Randy Wolf.

Perez was 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA in 34 starts. Although he struck out 180, he also walked 105 in 194 innings.

At times Perez looks like an ace and other days he walks the ballpark. What’s your take on him coming back? Is he finally going to “get it,” or can the Mets expect more of the maddening  inconsistency?