Mike Pelfrey has pitched almost exclusively as a starter in the majors, but he’s headed to the bullpen now that the Twins have named Tommy Milone as their fifth starter. And he’s not happy about it.
After being limited to just five starts last season due to a groin strain and surgery to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve near his elbow, Pelfrey has turned in a solid 1.32 ERA and 7/2 K/BB ratio across 13 2/3 innings this spring. The 31-year-old right-hander feels that he did enough to win a spot in the rotation, telling Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he’s “kind of disappointed, frustrated, a little upset” with the move to the bullpen.
Pelfrey also said that he would welcome a trade to pitch as a starter elsewhere, but interest figures to be limited. He’s owed $5.5 million this season and owns an ugly 5.56 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 over 34 starts since returning from Tommy John surgery.
