At Least Seven Teams Interested in Mike Pelfrey

Former New York Mets starter Mike Pelfrey is attracting a good deal of attention, with at least seven teams expressing an interest in his services according to Jon Heyman:

no less than 7 teams have interest in Mike Pelfrey. shows the need for mid-range starters (even ones coming off TJ surgery)

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 2, 2012

The 28 year old righty was non-tendered by the Mets on Friday after losing nearly all of the 2012 season to Tommy John Surgery. Heyman notes that the interest in Pelfrey shows how much need there is for mid-rotation starting pitching this off-season, even if that means signing a pitcher coming of Tommy John surgery.

Pelfrey has been a slightly below average starter thus far in his career, but prior to the elbow injury that end his 2012 season, he had been a reliable innings-eater. The sinker ball specialist topped 180 innings in each of his first four full seasons in the major leagues before 2012. He has been well below average at striking hitters out, fanning just 12.9% in his career and his walk rate is typically near average, but Pelfey is very good at generating ground balls and limiting home runs.

The interest in Pelfrey is not surprising. Teams looking for inexpensive back-of-the-rotation help could do much worse than Mike Pelfrey. Assuming that he does recover fully, he should provide adequate performance and a good number of innings for a fourth or fifth starter. Teams like the Twins, the Indians, the Rockies and the Angels could definitely use a reliable arm with ground ball stuff.