(Video courtesy of SNY)
Mike Pelfrey will undergo Tommy John Surgery on his right elbow, and miss the remainder of the season.
His recovery and return could be anywhere between 12 and 18 months depending on how the elbow responds and any potential setbacks. Pelfrey does have youth on his side which could bode well for him.
Pelfrey was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday after an MRI revealed swelling in his right elbow on Tuesday.
Andy Martino of the Daily News later reported that Pelfrey’s MRI was sent to Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama for a second opinion. But now he’ll fly down to see Dr. Andrews tomorrow and have the surgery to repair the UCL in his elbow.
Today I responded to a MMO Mailbag question that asked:
Have we seen the last of Mike Pelfrey?
Difficult to say right now because his diagnosis and treatment has yet to be determined. If Pelfrey can avoid surgery I’m certain he will be back. But if it’s determined that he will need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow, then Pelfrey may have pitched his last game for the Mets. Pelf is owed $5.8 million for this season and has one more year of arbitration left. Under the rules of the CBA he cannot be tendered less than 80% of his current salary if the Mets want to bring him back. That would mean paying him $4.6 million without any guarantee that he will be back before August of next season. He would most definitely be non-tendered after this season, making him a free agent that Scott Boras will showcase whenever he is throwing off a mound again.
Tough break for Pelf…
