27
2012
Is This the End of Mike Pelfrey’s Tenure with the Mets?
An article by Former Writers
As it is looking more and more like a certainty that Mike Pelfrey will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the 2012 season, it is time to wonder if the start that Pelfrey made on April 21 was the last time that we will see him in a New York Mets uniform.
It seemed as if Pelfrey had figured things out through the early part of the year. He looked good in his first three starts of the season. Interestingly enough, the only times that Pelfrey has posted an ERA below 3.75 have been in even numbered years. 2008 and 2010 were Pelfrey’s two best years in the majors and 2012 was looking like it could be a good year for Pelfrey.
Last winter Pelfrey was a non-tender candidate and he will likely be one again this year as he will be due a raise from the $6.8 million that he was making this season. The Mets are not going to give him more than $7 million as he comes back from Tommy John surgery and rightly so. It would make a lot of sense for the Mets to non-tender Pelfrey this winter.
The team will certainly look into bringing their former first round pick back next year at a much lower salary. This could present the Mets with a chance to sign Pelfrey for a few years at a much lower salary than he would have cost them otherwise. However, other teams will certainly have an interest in Pelfrey too.
One of the key factors in the decision to bring back Pelfrey next year will likely be the progression of Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia. If two of these pitchers prove that they are ready for the majors then the Mets might choose to let Pelfrey move on.
It has certainly been an up and down career for the big right-hander and the next time Mets fans see him on the mound, Pelfrey might be wearing an unfamiliar jersey.
About the Author: Former Writers
13 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
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Whatever happens to MP and his arm next year, the one constant in his ability to be a successful MLB pitcher is his head. Not sure if this really would have been a great year for him anyway unless he can bottle up his self-doubt and timidity on the mound.
In any case, I hope things go well for him.
I wasnt a big Pelfrey fan and if it were my decision he wouldn’t have been tendered in the offseason. When he got off to the good start all I could think was that maybe we could trade him in July. Now we wont get anything for him.
Agreed. Fare well Big Pelf.
I never like to see a productive homegrown guy nontendered because the system has overinflated his contract. Pelf at 5 mil would be a good match but 7 seems a waste of resources.
In all fairness I think writing tis column is in bad taste. Let the chips fall where they may. Lets not dance on his potential grave as a MLB player.
How is it in bad taste? The article is in no way suggesting that Pelfrey’s career is done, but rather questioning if he will be a member of the New York Mets next year. Based on the success rate of Tommy John surgery and Pelfrey’s age and talent, he will pitch in the majors again. It is just a question of who he will be pitching for.
I think we have seen the last of Pelf, unless for some odd reason he signs an extension for much less money. Think 9 mil over 3 years? He most likely isn’t going to be ready until mid year, so I would think he would be non-tendered if he isn’t extended on the cheap. At the salary and production he provides, it was time for the Mets to move on regardless. This just pushes that along a little faster.
no way they can tender him a contract, since next year will essentially be a rehab year, and at the end of it, the mets have no control over him.
and I don’t see this as being worth a deal like Chris Carpenter got (a multi year extension, with the first year dedicated to rehab). At least, I think they did that with him!
non-tender, and if they want to work out some sort of MiL deal, fine. most likely, he just stays as a FA until he proves he can pitch again, then some team picks him up on the cheap for the rest of 2013, then he hits FA and who knows.
I was trying to think of a possibility where he could be back. In the end, he’ll be non-tendered and that will be that. I’ll be glad he’s gone, but I do feel for him personally. He’ll be fine and catch on with the Royals or something like that down the line.
I think that this could be good for both the Mets and Pelfrey. It seems to me that he would be way better off in a small market team without all the pressure of New York. Maybe San Diego or Houston? Good Luck to him !!
“2008 and 2010 were Pelfrey’s two best years in the minors”
Huh?
I apologize. That should have read “majors” instead of minors. It has been fixed.
Assuming TJ surgery, the earliest he will be pitching in a major league rotation is July 2013. Clearly he won’t be tendered but I would like to see him resigned at a rate that is economical and incentive laden. If not, he moves on. So the real question is which team will he wind up throwing a no-hitter for once he leaves the Mets?