27
2012
Pelfrey Says If Season Started January, He’d Be Able To Throw 100 Pitches
An article by 
Updated Post 11/27
Mike Pelfrey told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York that he expects to be ready to pitch by Opening Day.
“If the season started January 15, I would be able to go out and throw 100 pitches,” Pelfrey told Rubin.
Pelfrey underwent Tommy John Surgery on May 1st to repair ligaments in his right elbow. The recovery is typically one year long, but there have been cases where pitchers came back sooner than expected like Jenrry Mejia for example.
This is definitely good news for Pelfrey, who will most likely be non-tendered by the team on Friday making the righthander a free agent.
Original Post 11/25
After writing about Jon Niese as an untouchable Met yesterday, I thought I’d take a different approach and consider a Met believed to be out the door.
Say hello to Mike Pelfrey. Long thought to be gone, but upon further review a case can be made for his return.
The 28-year-old Pelfrey made $5.68 million in an injury shortened 2012 and is expected to hit the market with a career 50-54 record. He is arbitration eligible with Scott Boras as his agent, all which should make the Mets deathly afraid.
Quite bluntly: Even at 20 percent off his 2012 salary, the Mets think that is too high, which is why they won’t tender him and say good-bye after a disappointedly short-lived career in Flushing. He had a couple of solid seasons, even All-Star worthy in 2010, but regressed in 2011 and was hurt last year.
He never reached the level expected of a first-round pick while others, such as Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain sprinted past him into elite status. Unquestionably, Pelfrey has the physical tools to excel, but dramatically underachieved. A combination of a lack of poise – who can forget the three-balk game? – poor pitch selection, mechanics, and although he’ll deny it – spotty confidence – led to mediocrity.
Considering the pay raise he would get in today’s screwed up arbitration system, the Mets can understandably not want to pay $6 million for mediocrity.
However, the Mets are loaded with pitching questions that make Pelfrey intriguing to re-consider assuming he’s healthy.
First of all, Johan Santana’s health is a concern, but even if he’s sound, this will be his final season as a Met, so there will be void and they don’t know if Zack Wheeler will be ready. Or Jenrry Mejia. They don’t even know if Mejia will start or relieve.
R.A. Dickey’s status is uncertain and his possible departure would create another hole. And, what if Niese or Matt Harvey don’t progress as expected? I’d rather have a still-young Pelfrey than Chris Young or a 37-year-old retread.
Pelfrey’s age, his familiarity with the organization and New York, his past glimpses of production and a reasonable salary compared with others in the market make him viable.
Pelfrey could probably be re-signed to a minor league deal that shouldn’t put the Mets on the hook for more than a million dollars, and he could prove to be a very useful addition. Mark my words: If the Mets don’t bring him back somebody will sign him.
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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The problem is that Pelfrey is also a questi
The problem is also a question mark. Coming off Tommy John surgery he won’t likely pitch until May or June at the earliest and even then will need some minor league rehab time so he likely wouldn’t be available to the Mets (or any other team) until probably July or later. But if the deal were right I’d be ok with bringing him back. Just don’t consider him a backup plan in case of injury until mid season at least.
The team would be crazy to bring back Pelfrey at any price! You ask why?
1) Mike has always looked like a deer frozen by oncoming headlights.
2) A decent guy who belongs in a quieter media town than New York.
3) His agent is Scott Boros who has screwed us in every way in the past!
Good luck to you Mike……..in Seattle, Oakland, or wherever!
I agree with JD. Pelfrey should be brought back. He knows NY; was having a good year until hurt; still has potential and is still young. And with our pitching Q-Marks–Santana, RA (loss via trade), and Gee, Pelfrey is probably our best ‘quick fix’ option on the basis of cost, age, and potential.
Please trade. I think an unknown or a rookie would be be better. Bringing Pelfrey back is not a good sign. Just my opinion.
sometimes it is easy to tell a blog written by a Mets Fan. Everything is a question mark. In fact the Mets starting pitching may be less a question mark then most teams in Baseball.
Lets play that game with the Yankees, what can really expect from CC after all those innings. 15 million for a 37 year Japanese pitcher? Will Phil Hughes put together back to back years. Any Pettite 41?
I dont mind bringing in a 1 year reclamation project…esp if signed with a 1 year club option.
If the guy turns out to be the goods…execute the option and trade him to a contender for a good prospect.
We should be ALL about 2014-2018
Roy Oswalt may be available
Next off-season, Roy Holliday may be available
If Mike Pelfrey can be had for a minor league deal by The Mets than they should do it. All the BS aside the guy is a pitcher who eats innings and will add to the depth of the team. There is no down side to this kind of deal. Even coming off injury he will provide more than most of the minor league signings and has potential. The only down side possible is if he does come back in July and pitch brilliantly for a couple of months on a losing team and is resigned and reverts back to his previous form. This FO has made it abundantly clear that they are unwilling to give contracts such as that so there is no real danger in bringing Pelf back.
The mets will never sign Roy Halladay or Oswalt. They aren’t waiting all these years to finally have some cash to spend, only to blow it on two aging, declining pitchers. Especially when starters are their strength. This team will invest in offense, the bullpen, and the draft and international signings once they have two nickels to rub together. They’ll invest in the future heavily while also trying to upgrade the offense next year.
This year….it seems as if nothing will get done until they have answers with Wright and Dickey.
I agree there is no chance of signing either of those pitchers. I don’t even see why someone would want to sign them at this point. I’m not sure how much offense bolstering we are going to be seeing for next year but it would be nice. I would like to see the team remain focused on gathering pitchers though. Too often The Mets have been “set” at a position only to find their depth disappears and becomes a liability a year or two later.
What players are projected to be free-agents in 2013…2014…2015?
Most of them will be in their late 20′s / early 30′s…
The premier ones will be commanding contracts that take them into their late 30′s and are risky
The bad ones arent worth signing
It sounds like we will be hoping for lighting in a bottle for the next 10 years
“What players are projected to be free-agents in 2013…2014…2015?
Most of them will be in their late 20′s / early 30′s…”
Isn’t that the range in age of free agents every year since the inception of free agency?
Nothing new there.
Why not? he has shown flashes of being a successful mlb pitcher. can never have too much pitching, especially if dickey is dealt away.
No need for the Mets to offer Mike a minor league contract. Even though he is young enough to come back from such injury and at times has been a decent a starter why bother? We’ve already signed Wanel Mesa.
LOL that is true he is our stopper.
If Pelfrey is non tendered, he’s as good as gone.
RHP Scott Baker, a solid # 3 / 4 starter who had TJ surgery in late April just signed a 1-year, 5.5 million guaranteed deal, plus incentives.
Pelfrey should get at least 3.5 million with incentives.
But why with the Mets with 5 rotation spots seemingly set, plus Wheeler and maybe others knocking on the door ?
If Pelfrey becomes a Free Agent, he’ll sign somewhere with a Team that has a rotation opening and preferably a pitching friendly environment.
If the Mets want to keep him, offer him arbitration – even if that means he’ll make 5 to 7 million in 2013.
“If the Mets want to keep him, offer him arbitration – even if that means he’ll make 5 to 7 million in 2013″.
That would be just about the most stupid thing they could do other than giving Wright a contract in excess of $100mil and 6+ years.
I didn´t state my opinion, just what it´d take to bring Pelfrey back.
Again, I don´t understand all the talk about non-tendering him and then bringing him back on a minor league deal.
You can rest assured that in a market where a finesse righty like Scott Baker, coming off the same surgery around the same time, gets a 5.5 million $ guaranteed deal with incentives, someone will give Pelfrey a guaranteed 3+ million $ for 2013, plus incentives to at least double that total. Especially with Boras as the agent.
Out of the limelight in New York, a better defense behind him, Pelfrey still could emerge as a workhorse # 3 caliber SP elsewhere. Just probably not with the Mets.
P.S. Signing Wright to an extension certainly makes a lot more sense than bringing back Pelfrey for 6+ million in 2013, all things considered.
Why would we bring back Mike Pelfrey? By the time he would’ve returned which is most likely any where from May-July, Wheeler will have already made his MLB debut, Pelfrey just can’t handle the pressure of NY, I think it’s best for the Mets,and for Pelfrey himself to just move on.
Just to play devil’s advocate….
I’m assuming you’re going with a rotation to start the year of:
Dickey
Niese
Johan
Harvey
Gee
What if Johan’s arm doesn’t make it out of July?
What if Gee’s surgically repaired arm leads to regression?
What if Dickey is traded?
What if Harvey or Niese have an injury?
You can’t have enough pitching.
Pelfrey has a good upside and is worth a gamble if we could get him at a reasonable price. He was pitching well before he went down last year and remember he would only be a stop-gap until some of the other pitching prospects are ready for prime time. If we catch lightning in a bottle and he pitches lights out there is another arm in the the system which will give the team more flexibility moving forward. Remember, you can never have enough arms!!!
The question you need to ask yourself is Pelfrey’s issues really about where he plays as opposed to how good he is?
Would he do better away from the NY pressure cooker?
Splits seem to suggest no and when you look at the details what really kills Pelfrey away is the HR ball.
27 HRs allowed at home in 83 games 2186 PA
43 HRs allowed away in 70 games 1745 PA
and it shows in his ERA.
He needs a good Pitching coach that can teach him how to pitch in a hitter’s park. And by pitchng most of his games there he will get better in those Pitcher’s park as a result.
He’s not a bad pitcher he just is not a good one but he could become one of those guys who in a different venue finds himself and has you kicking yourself for letting him go.
He has the stuff to be great all his issues are in his head which is where a good pitching coach is needed.
I think they will pass on him and hope everyone else does too then give him a MiL contract.
No way they give him a qualifying offer though. Not until he proves he is healthy which isn’t going to happen in time.
Metsie, I couldn’t agree more about Pelfrey. A couple years ago I was clamoring for management to hire Pelfrey an individual pitching coach. Someone who would pay attention to him and him alone and help to develop the deficiencies in his game. He is a head scratcher and one that should have been traded years ago I suppose. Maybe just maybe the organization can learn from Pelfrey’s failing and do a more complete job at development.
Hi Metsie,
I agree with you too – Pelfrey would probably perform much better being out of New York and a different organization.
Many don’t realize that poor coaching can hamper one’s performance as well as one’s limited talent. We saw this with Ike Davis this past year when Terry Collins told him to forgo the Sandy Alderson/Dave Hutchins forced style of hitting and to go back doing what was comfortable and successful for him in the past.
If done correctly it could one of those low risk high reward signings that Omar was pretty good at, until he fell in love with the player of course.
Hey in Pelfrey’s defense he didn’t say any of those 100 Pitches would actually be strikes so we should take him on his word here….
Unless Pelfrey’s surgery involved receiving a bionic arm, it’s time to trade him for the next Mr. Hicks.
Eff Mike Pelfrey. They’d be 100 meatballs. Tell Scott Boras to stop giving you talking points, Pelf. We aren’t buying.
Probably trying to drive up his price tag. Too bad teams can just go to fangraphs and look at how lousy he’s been.
I think it’s mistake to get rid of Pelfrey who found himself in spring training and 4 starts by changing to windup. Unfortunately, he got hurt. I think Mets should keep him and try to trade Gee in a package for a right hand hitting outfielder.