21
2012
2012 Mets Player Review: Mike Pelfrey
An article by 
MIKE PELFREY, RHP
PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS: After falling far short of the expectations of a No. 1 draft choice in 2005 – the ninth overall selection – Mike Pelfrey had what was thought to be a breakout year in 2010 when he went 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA and career high 204 innings. Pelfrey did not have dominating numbers, but clearly made progressions in his approach to pitching that suggested he might become the pitcher the Mets hoped. Pelfrey finally was pitching with poise and guile. There was an undeniable composure he never displayed before and his pitch selection was far better. Hitters could no longer sit on his fastball because he was getting his secondary pitches over in fastball counts. Could Pelfrey finally become an ace? Well, no. Pelfrey regressed in 2011 going 7-13 with a 4.74 ERA. Hitters ripped him at a .286 clip with a .344 on-base percentage and crushed 21 homers. With two back-to-back polar opposite seasons, the Mets didn’t know what to expect from him for the $5.6 million they would pay.
2012 SEASON REVIEW: Pelfrey started fast this year with a 2.29 ERA in three starts and resembled his 2010 performance. He pitched with composure in that window and the thought was perhaps he would take the next step. However, Pelfrey sustained an elbow injury and underwent Tommy John surgery that finished his season. Would it also finish his Mets’ career?
LOOKING AT 2013: The cost conscious Mets, despite holes in their rotation, aren’t expected to tender Pelfrey a contract this December, even if they were to offer the maximum 20 percent cut from his $5.687 million contract. Many pitchers have rebounded from Tommy John surgery, so even if the Mets don’t bring him back there will be interest as there is no shortage of teams with pitching needs. If the Mets think they can cut him loose and bring him back at a discount, they should think again because at 28, he’s young enough to where his career isn’t over. Pelfrey is a career 50-54 with a 4.36 ERA and .284 batting average against him. Of all the statistics on his resume, his age is the one most likely to cause the Mets to take a flier on him again. Considering the potential holes in the Mets’ rotation and bullpen and inevitable need for pitching, he might be worth the gamble. If healthy, he could give the Mets close to 200 innings. With Johan Santana gone after 2013, the Mets will need a starter and there are no guarantees from Matt Harvey, Zach Wheeler or Jenrry Mejia. The idea has also been floated of putting Pelfrey in the bullpen with potential of eventually becoming the closer.
NEXT: Matt Harvey
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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What holes in the rotation?
Well is Young coming back? Is Gee or Johan a sure thing to not have setbacks in rehab? What if Dickey is traded?
Pelfrey? His shortcomings start between his ears and there is no fix for that.
That is as good an assessment of Mike Pelfrey as could be made. I never cared for his demeanor on the mound when in a tight spot. He pitched scared as if to say…here we go again!
The best he can hope for is if he gets a minor league deal. I would rather send him packing as a throw in to complete a multi player trade to fill one of our holes.
He is not the future of this team anymore. It is time to part ways!
If it wasn’t for the team having to be so cost-conscious, I don’t think there would even be a question of tendering his contract and seeing what happens. I think Harvey has shown he is ready for the big leagues but we don’t know about Mejia and Wheeler. Pelfrey still has many years ahead for him, especially with the repaired tommy john surgery, so it cannot be argued that he is getting old.
BTW – I thought the way the Mets have been touting him that Zack Wheeler was a lock despite his continued control problems and need to improve his breaking stuff.
his breaking stuff is amazing. control is his only problem. you know theres a reason hes a top 10 prospect in the game.
My point about Wheeler not being a lock was simply to be in agreement with John about there being no guarantees with prospects. Pelfrey is an example of a highly ranked one not reaching the potential and last winter we felt we were set with Lucas Duda. I think Wheeler indeed has the tools to become a solid pitcher with the Mets but we have to still wait before calling him a “lock”. Remember that Phil Hughes was the Yankees number one draft pick and was pitching a no-hitter in him major league debut.
Regarding his breaking stuff, it has improved but still needs work. Here is a good assessment of Wheeler’s 2012 which indeed gives us great hope.
http://mets360.com/?p=12624
I completely agree with those points.
Wheeler’s changeup definitely needs work, but i still think his curveball/slider combo is already almost as good as harveys from what ive seen.
My guess is they will try to get pelfrey to sign a similar deal to what Young signed last year.
Start down in the Minors amd see how the rehab goes.
Gee should be fine as there was no muscle damage to him but Santana is still a very big question mark to go a whole season.
The question will be if Santana makes it to August allowing them to bring up Wheeler or does he (or someone else) go down before them forcing them to bring up Pelfrey instead.
Knowing this FO Pelfrey will be back in a MiL capacity as the break glass option for the rotation.
With a second half switch to the Bullpen if and when Wheeler comes up.
he should be trade bait when wheeler comes up, id rather get prospects than put him in the bullpen
for the rotation, I consider Santana the same as I did before last year. That he can’t be considered to be part of the plan, and that anything he gives you is found money. So IOW there needs to be someone pencilled in that can either start in the minors or the pen if Johan actually is ready.
Pelf? No chance they tender him. Not sure any team would. You have to keep in mind that you only are getting whatever portion of the year he can go, since he is a FA after 2013. You might make a different decision if he would be under team control for a couple more years after next year.
I would not be at all surprised if the mets try hard to bring him back on a cheaper deal with lots of incentives, and I think it would be a smart idea.
I think they may try to resign him and he may end up doing well but I STRONGLY DOUBT that he’s bullben material.
I would rather have Chris Young here than Pelfrey. He has already pitched healthy for a year following surgery and did well for 5 and sometimes 6 innings. I remember too many starts for Pelfrey over the years that he was terrible in the first inning or two!
The only way I would bring Pelfrey back is to assign him in the bullpen as a long reliever. If he refuses, I’d look elsewhere. Pelfrey needed to be put into this position years ago, but the Mets never considered it.