20
2011
Is Pelfrey Worth $7 Million To Be A Fourth Starter?
An article by 
Last night at rain-soaked Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey let up four runs on eight hits and four walks in a 6-1 loss to the Brewers. It was just another forgettable start for Pelfrey whose record dropped to 6-10 with a 4.61 ERA – worst among all starters. Only Ryota Igarashi and D.J. Carrasco have worse ERAs than Pelfrey this season for the Mets. “I’m frustrated, it sucks”, Pelfrey said after the game.
Pelfrey, who was tabbed the Mets Opening Day starter and the de facto ace before the season began, is currently the highest paid starter in the rotation, earning (for lack of a better word) about $4 million dollars this season. I bring that up only because with Pelfrey entering arbitration this offseason, his agent Scott Boras will most certainly look to up his salary to $7 million dollars or more. That’s a scary thought.
After six seasons as a major leaguer, Pelfrey is pretty much the same inconsistent and oftentimes maddening pitcher that he was when he first came up. There has been no signs of development, no learning curve, nothing. In fact, I would argue that currently he is at his all time worst as a Met. His sinkerball is now a thing of the past and it was the main reason he was first drafted in 2005 in the first place. His 19 home runs allowed are a career high and he still has 6-7 starts left.
I’m actually tired of hearing how electric and dazzling Pelfrey looks when he’s on because the truth is that Pelfrey has never once been anything more than mediocre at best even when he’s on.
His skills are a complete mess – changing arm angles and pitch selection from game to game. His execution is just flat out awful,and he’s the first to admit it. If he hasn’t figured it out after six seasons, he never will. He’s already been passed up by teammates Jon Niese and Dillon Gee who exude confidence on the mound – a confidence that has never been seen with Pelfrey.
He’s been passed up by many pitchers who were selected after him in his draft class. For a 6-foot-7 pitcher who was selected 9th overall in 2005 and could throw in the mid-90s, we all expected to see a lot more from him. In that regard Pelfrey has been a total bust as a top-ten pick.
I came across this quote in an article by Joel Sherman of the NY Post who spoke to a few MLB executives and scouts about the right-hander.
An NL baseball operations head called Pelfrey “fourth starter-ish” because of “his lack of punch outs and so-so toughness.” An AL personnel chief said, “He is the kind of guy you don’t want starting the first three games of a playoff series. And that is not as valuable as his salary increases.”
“He profiles as more of an innings guy than a big-time impact starter,” said an NL scouting head. “He has never exhibited a true pitcher’s feel and this dates back to college.”
That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?
If this is how scouts and executives see Pelfrey, his trade value is nothing to speak of and almost non-existent, though the same article says he could draw interest from a second-division team looking for a cheap pitching-project.
Which brings us to the reality that Pelfrey may very well be back with the Mets again next season, only this time with a much higher salary and of course increased expectations…. and we all know how Mike Pelfrey responds to increased expectations. But seriously, do we really want to spend more than $2-3 million dollars on a pitcher who is looked at by most as “fourth starter-ish”?
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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Sandy Alderson is a smart guy and he’ll use the marketplace to set the salary point. It won’t be set by scribes who have no skin in the game.
“… the truth is that Pelfrey has never once been anything more than mediocre at best even when he’s on.” I don’t know if the context is a single game, a month, or a season. If you’re referring to short periods of time, this claim is just hyperbole. What was the context?
season to season over six years.
Over that time frame, you’ve nailed it Joe.
I should add that his one mediocre at best season was last year.
Des -
You’re right he’ll go according to the market to set a price. Should he make the effort…I wouldn’t. I’d be fine with a minor leaguer who may very well turn out to be less effective than Pelfrey than hing my hopes on Pelfrey “getting it”. You know what we got it..he sucks. Move on.
DES, #1 ALDERSON’S IN NO POSITION TO SET ANYTHING REGARDING PELFREY, ESP MATCHED Vs BORAS IN AN ARBITRATION HEARING. I CAN’T RECALL ANY ARBI HEARING LOST BY THE ‘”KING” OF DARKNESS’, HELL HE COULD LIKELY WIN A MILLION+ AWARD REPRESENTING MR.MET AS A CFer.
ONE MUST INSTINCTIVELY KNOW BORAS WILL BE “OUT FOR BLOOD” SINCE HE SURRENDERED HIS CLIENT’S ARBI RIGHTS BY MEEKLY ACCEPTING THE “MODEST” 3.9M TENDER FROM ALDERSON LAST OFFSEASON, “THE HONEYMOON EILL BE TURNED INTO A CONTESTED DIVORCE, THE MOMENT THE ARBITRATIONM DATE IS SELECTED. U CAN TAKE IT TO THE BANK! I CONTEND LAST YR’S ACCEPTANCE WAS A BORAS ‘SETUP’ TO CLAIM A BIGGER THAN CURRENT PERFORMANCE AWARD IS NECESSARY TO COUNTER THE UNDER MARKET PRICE OWNERSHIP PROFFERED HIS 15G WINNING CLIENT & STAFF “ACE” BY TEAM DESIGNATION. IT WOULDN’T SUPRISE ME ONE IOTA, IF BORAS, HIMSELF, WASN’T THE PLANTER OF THE “SHOW CONFIDENCE” SEED.
I PERSONALLY ‘SUSPECT’ BORAS OF HAVING A PERSONAL VEWNDETTA AGAINST THE METS BECAUSE OF HOW DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN TO PORTRAY US AS A MYSTERY BIG MARKET INTERSESTED THREAT DURING HIS NEGOTIATIONS FOR HIS OTHER CLIENTS. BY THE METS’ PRIMARILY ACTING MORE MID-SM MARKETISH FOR DECADES THEY’VE REDUCED BORAS’ MARKETPLACE AS WELL AS CONSTRICTED HIS ABILITY TO COERCE MORE OUT OF TARGETED TEAMS ONCE THE LIKES OF NYY,BOS,LAA,LAD ARE ELIMINATED.
GOING BACK TO ’05′s OFFERING OF BELTRAN TO NYY FOR LESS, BORAS’ SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS HAVE BEEN POIGNANTLY TAERGETED TO HURTING OR EMBARAASSING NYM OWNERSHIP. PELFREY WILL BE ONE MORE OPORTUNITY, AS WAS HIS WAITING FOR BREWS TO BECOME THE TEAM OF RECORD ON THE SUBJECT OF ELIMINATING K-ROD’s DEADLY OPTION, I BELIEVE HE DELIBERATELY WAITED FOR NYM TO PULL THE TRIGGER BEFORE HE MADE THE DEAL UNNECESSARY BY ELIMINATING THE OPTION AS IT MUST HAVE BEEN HIS DESIGN FRONM THE GET GO AS HE NETS NOTHING FROM THE HIGH PRICED OPTION ACTIVATION & STANDS TO EARN FULL COMMISSION ON FRANKIE’S SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT COMMENCING IN ’12 FOR MORE YHJAN A TOTAL OF 17.5M GUARANTEED. THE ONLY TRUSTWORTHY BORAS CHARACTYERISTICS ARE HE WILL HURT US & HE WILL WIN IN ARBITRATION AVOIDING BOTH OF THOSE OUTCOMES MUST BE PARAMOUNT WHEN CONSIDERING WHAT TO DO ABOUT “THE BIG MISTAKE”
THE TRICK & ONLY MOVE I SEE TO AVOID THIS SALARY ARMAGEDDON IS TO EITHER OUTRIGHT RELEASE PELF ON SEPT. 30 OR ACCEPT A MEDIOCRE PKG OF SUSPECTS COME OCT 15.
EITHER AVOID THE HEARING ROOM BY SUBSTITUTING A COMPETITOR OR ALLOW BORAS TO TAKE HIM TO MARKET AS A FREED AGENT.
IT’S APPARENTLY OBVIOUS, NAMING PELF #1 WAS AN ELIMINATION PLOY, ELIMINATING “CONFIDENCE IN HIM” AS AN EXCUSE FOR HIS LOW SELFCONFIDENCE; FEW HAVE EVER POINTED OUT TC’s PERSONAL REEVALUATION OF HIM AS #3 WHEN HE RESTRUCTURED THE ROTATION AFTER THE BREAK. THE MOST ALARMING FACT IS PELF’S INABILITY TO OVERPOWER BACKENDERS IN HIS MATCHUPS HENCE AS HIS POST BREAK RECORD IS HORENDOUS, 1 MAYBE 2 Ws.
WHILE, ROTATION POSITIONING ALTERS YOUR SCHEDULED OPPONENT AS RIGORS OF COMPETITION CREATE SCEDULING ALTERATIONS PITCHERS EARMARKED FOR A CERTAIN ROTATIONAL SPOT, MOSTLY BEGIN THEIR FIRST FEW TURNS OPPOSED BY THEIR COMPETITIVE COUNRTERPART 1 Vs 1,2 Vs 2, ETC AS INJURIES & SUBSTITUTIONS OCCUR MORE LIKELY OPPONENTS TEND TO REMAIN FRONENDER Vs FRONTENDER & BACK Vs BACK AS A #1 PELF COULD EXPECT TO MOST OFTEN FACE EITHER THE OPPONENT 1 OR 2, SOMETIMES CATCHING A BREALK FACING #5; BUT AS #3 HE’D RARELY GET #1 MORE OFTEN OPPOSING 2,3,4. HIS PROCILVITY TOWARD SELF COMBUSTION HAS UNDENIABLY ERODED HIS EFFECTIVENESS AS A MLB PITCHER, IMO. AS HE’S MOST SUSCEPTIBLE IN FIRST INNINGS PRECLUDING HIS CANDIDACY FOR RELIEF WORK.
IT’S PROPER FOR PELF TO GET HIS NAME CHALKED INTO THE COLUMN OF MISJUDGED FIRST ROUNDERS ALONGSIDE PAUL WILSON,JAY PAYTON, TERRENCE LONG, SHAWN ABNER & A HOST OF OTHERS.
AS STAUSBURG & HARPER ARE NOW UNDERSCORING, THE VAGARIES OF CHOOSING CORECTLY WOULD BE A FORMIDABLE CHALLENGE FOR NOSTRADAMUS, CONSIDERING FLUSHING’S HISTRORICAL REFEERNCE THEIR PRIMARY ADVISOR MUIST BE HIS EVIL TWIN aka NOSTRA-DUMBASS.
GENERALLY IT PERFECTLY HIGHLIGHTS TYHE AGE OLD ARGUEMENT BETWEEN IMPROVING VIA FREE AGENCY Vs AMATEUR DRAFTING.
IT IS TIME TO ‘CUT BAIT’ ON THE VERY LAST BORAS CLIENT ON OUR 40, UNTIL HARVEY IS PROMOTED.
Right on 62, I don’t know if this is all true but the fact that Boras is out for himself and his client does not help Mets.
If Pelfrey wanted to stay a Met, really wanted to stay and try and salvage his career then he takes a contract similar to this years with a small increase, or else I say release him or trade for some lottery tickets.
The money spent on him can’t be justified.
CURRENT ADENDUM…HERE’S A CONSIDERATION I HADN’T THOUGHT OF…
WHAT IF, THIS TALK OF PELF DEMOTED TO PEN IS MERELY A COUNTER MOVE FOR ARBI HEARING?
IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR BORAS TO ARGUE A SALARY INCREASE IS WARRANTED FOR A PITCHER THE TEAM HAS POSITIONED FOR DEMOTION & TO A POSITION(PEN) MUCH MORE CONDUCIVE TO SALARIES UNDER $4M
WHILE THAT KIND OF UBER STRATYEGIC THINKING WOULD BE BEYOND PHILLIPS,DUQUETTE,MINAYA I CAN EASILY BELIEVE A MARONE CORPS OFFICER CAN STRATEGIZE AROUND SUCH AN OBVIOUS MINEFIELD. WHAT DOES ANYBODY THINK? PERHAPS THIS ‘CLOSER’ CONSIDERATION WAS MERELY USING TC TO SWERVE AROUND BORAS’ OBVIOUS BELLICOSE OBJECTIONS & TO GET PELF TO PUBLICLY ACQQUIRSCE TO THE NON SP CONCEPT, ONCE THE ARBI HEARING IS PAST, HOPEFULLY WITH THE ARBITOR CONDIDERING THE FUTURE EARNINGS OF A RELIEVER, NOT A SP, TEAM IS FREE TO USE HIM AS THEY WISH, #4,#5, WHATEVER.
Pelfrey…Ten million dollar arm. Five cent head. Time to move on ! enough said
He’s barely worth 3 to 5 mil per if at that. I’m so done with him. He had a defeatest attitude from day one. Did you hear Bob Ojeda pretty much rip him a new one on the Postgame show after yesterday’s game? He deserved every bit of it.
Agreed ! This guy is a loser and hopefully the Tampons let him walk. Most likely though they will award him a 5 year 63 million dollar contract.
I missed the post game and now I wish I had watched because I love when Ojeda goes off on something. I’m so glad he replaced Mazzilli who would put me to sleep.
Is there a link ? I’d love to see that also !
It was epic! Gary Appel was pretty much in shock. LOVED IT!
Bobby O’s major rant last night was about Pagan and his poor base running decisions. He went so far as to say in his time, some of the bigger guys would take him down in the tunnel and get on him saying something like: ‘you need to pay attention, you’re costing RBIs and runs’.
Twice he should have advanced and once scored but did not.
Pagan is a very good athlete. Too bad his baseball instincts are not close to very good at times. As Keith has pointed out many times, that’s something that just cannot be taught.
Bobby did go on to comment about Pelfrey’s post game interview. Said he’s tired of hearing pitchers say: ‘I made good pitches, they just put a good swing on it’. He then went on to point out why some of those were NOT good pitches.
He certainly doesn’t pull any punches in his analysis.
He definetly doesn’t pull punches and he’s not taking cheap shots at any of them. If they disagree with his analysis of their play I’d love to see them give their spin. Go Bobby O!
The Mets need to make 2011 the end of the Pelfrey era. His attitude has left a lot to be desired. If he were having a Cy Young worthy season, we wouldn’t care as much about his stupid comments. He obviously thinks that he will have a better chance with another team. From the comments above that were made to the NY Post, it is hard to imagine anyone giving him a raise in salary. Actually, he might have to take a cut in order to be signed with someone for 2012.
Sadly Erica, only in Mike Pelfrey’s mind does he think changing uniforms will make him a better pitcher. He’s so soft if the team doesn’t re-sign him I’m sure he’ll pout about it to the press.
I just licked my fingers !
I can’t wait to see him pitching for a team playing in a bandbox somewhere. He will long for those vast meadows of Citi…..
Time to move on. He has had plenty of chances to prove us all wrong. He has not.
His best trait is an innings eater at this point. Would you give Livan Hernandez $7million? $5million? I’d only bring Pelf back if he made as much as this year, and that may be paying more than what you’ll get in return. Bye bye Pelf
I think the Mets are going call up Chris Schwinden when rosters expand in Sept. and might go to a 6 man SP rotation not with Santana but with Schwinden. If Chris shows well enough-Gee like, the Mets should cut ties with Pelfrey this off-season and move on.
I’ll join everyone in the, I’m done w/Pelf…seems like a good enuf guy but doesnt have what it take IMO, especially for any uptick in salary Last season after his first 10 starts was his best stretch..I think that given his age and build and flashes of success, I think that he is a tradeable commodity. Also, starting pitching is an area where I’d like to se the Mets improve in the offseason , I also think that, other then Reyes, they will not spend anymore money on offense and will go w duda and youth movement and fill in w cheaper vets..so I think they have room to spend on a number 1 or 2 starter to go along w Santana , Dickey, Niese, And Gee as we wait for our nice crop of youngsters to emerge…
I know I’d rather them not spend more than 3 MIL on a 4-5 starter. However, I think they’ll wind up doing it. They’ve already been quoted as saying Pelf will be back but that was over a month ago. He finishes out the season much like he’s been doing and I have to believe they’ll rethink that decision.
This would be a no brainer if it was 2013 and had a SP or two ready to make their debut.
You know another sad reality is that a guy like Pelfrey will get paid no matter what from someone based on his age and that supposed potential of his to swoon some GM into thinking he’s going to blossom. Pelf has better job security than a Teasmster.
Probably right. Last night, I heard third hand that the Brewers booth commented last night that their inside source said the Mets will non tender Pelf come end of the season. I would love to know where they got that from.
Me.
Disclaimer:
I think Pelf is a wonderful guy and teammate; I know his fellow Mets like him.
End of disclaimer.
As currently constituted, the Mets suck rotten eggs.
Pelf is one of the rotten eggs. I might pay him half that money to pack up his locker and never return. All chances for redemption have been exhausted.
Now I am beginning to want to see our Mets BLOWN UP!
Everyne says Pelgf seems like a good guy. who cares. Do not pull punches. Pelf sucks and he is sucking worse, if that is possible. He is not the kind of guy I want in my clubhouse. He is an underachiever.
In Reality, he now profiles as a 5—that’s where we put the INNINGS EATERS. But 5′s are Bulldogs—they pitch without stuff…Pelf won’t do that, 5′s battle…Pelf doesn’t do that.
As the Scarecrow Said—”If I only had a Brain!”
“……and a second pitch!”
Pelrey has proved he is essentially stupid and unable to step up to game situations. He simply goes into meltdown at any challenging game situation. He is unable to pitch effectively with runners on base. He is unable to hold runners at first base and they steal off him at will as he pays them no attention. All of that because he has no pitching sense and is a stupid player. He is at best a #4 and is no where the “ace” he was billed to be. Filling in for Santana this year was a complete joke. It is time for the Mts to find a way to say goodbye to Pelfrey. Time to send him packing and take anything we can get in exchange, a halfway decent OF prospect would be great. Next year we start with Dickey, Niese, and Gee and hope Santana is back. Then we only have to fit in one new starter unless we carry Capuano over another year on a prayer. I wouldn’t sign Pelfrey for anything near what Boras will ask.
Good article JoeD.
I feel that Pelfrey will one of those surprise off season moves by SA.
The fact that through arbitration he might get 6 million after a season like this is part of what is wrong with baseball and the “guaranteed increases” through arbitration.
Why can’t the current system, dreamed up and implemented by agents and players union, be changed because the current parameters used to justify a guaranteed raise of at least $6 million for a player with the history of Pelfrey is totally in the players favor as well as the agent.
I have liked Pelfrey and enjoyed when he had that streak last year early but he has allowed his mental approach to control how he pitches and now in his 6th year with Mets he needs to move on, go somewhere that might be less stressful for him.
I say SA releases him or trade him for some minor league players or ask him to take the same amount or a bit of raise, not 6 million.
I’m hoping that SA makes his mark on this team, as he did with Ollie and Luis, by telling Pelfrey and Boras to take their wares somewhere else cause the money they want can be used to fill another need.
Sorry Pelf, I thought you were going to be part of a up and coming rotation but your excuses and explanations are falling on deaf ears.
SARGE, AFTER READING THIS “I have liked Pelfrey and enjoyed…” I’VE GOT ONLY ONE PIECE OF ADVICE
YOU’LL LIKELY FIND THE S&M SITE BRUISERIZED.COM MORE TO TYOUR LIKING LMAO!
Oh, and I don’t think calling a person who fails at his chosen profession does not add quality to any argument.
He stinks and can’t handle the pressure of NY or pitch to his “promise” so let him go but do we need to denegrate the player?
It is only a game not a person deciding your raise or your medical needs, really!
He’s at best a 5th starter. While that is worth something, he would certainly be at the low end of 5th starters. I’ve seen enough! Time to send him packing!
I don’t disagree with your views, but who’s going to soak up 200 innings a year? The Mets right now struggle past the 7th inning. Sometimes the 6th inning. We need an innings sponge or it will get even worse.
DES, THAT’S THE MOST LAME RATIONALE I’VE EVER READ ON THESE BOARDS REGARDLESS OF TOPIC.
U DO REALIZE YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS WAS LAST USED TO JUSTIFY TRACHSEL IN ’06 & HE WAS MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE IN DOING IT. ON HIS WAY TO 15Ws DESPITE AN ERA BORDERING 6.00
DES, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BAD BREATH IS NOT A SUPERIOR OPTON TO NO BREATH. PELF IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES, ALL BY HIMSELF!
We’ve read so much about Pelfrey’s head and it all seems to make sense. What’s said less is the guy’s pitch selection is always predictable. He doesn’t have the repertoire nor the command. Maybe his head is the best part of his talent. Thole catching Pelfrey seems to add to the problems.
Des, wher’ve u been, Thole hasn’t caught Pelf since at least May, BTW,, i’ve calculated his struggles over his past 7 GS as #3 in the rotation:
1-2 (4 ND) 4.59 ERA, 1.48WHIP, now someone in the organization is asking he be considered for closer opening for 2012. IMO, that can only be Jeff, whose MLB knowledge &^ instincts are surpassed by his financial investment instincts
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2011/08/21/2011-08-21_ra_dickey_again_gets_little_support_as_mets_fall_apart_late_in_62_loss_to_milwau.html
what is DC unwilling to pat with Ollie?(lmao)
Why not have AJ Burnett and Mike Pelfrey change mounds for a week or so – think it would make any difference?
Just Kidding………