Detroit Tigers release pitcher Mike Pelfrey
Channel: sports
Date: 30/03/2017

LAKELAND, Fla. -- It’s a numbers game. And for the past couple of days, it has looked like veteran right-hander Mike Pelfrey would be on the wrong side of the numbers with the Detroit Tigers.

His statistics weren’t good last season. This spring, they haven’t been any better.

With three days left in spring training and their bullpen at capacity for Opening Day, the team granted Pelfrey an unconditional release today. He is owed $8 million after signing a two-year, $16-million deal before 2016.

It's the second release of a veteran righty this week, after letting Mark Lowe go Sunday. Lowe was due $5.5 million after signing a two-year, $11-million contract before 2016.

Pelfrey, 33, went 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA and 1.73 WHIP last season. This spring, he posted a 7.94 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 17 innings.

Pelfrey entered spring training without a role. Though his velocity picked up in his last appearance Wednesday, hitting 94 m.p.h. on the Joker Marchant Stadium radar gun, he still allowed three runs on six hits, including back-to-back home runs.

Manager Brad Ausmus recently said the team did not have room for two long relievers, which meant that Pelfrey’s only path to staying aboard would be if Anibal Sanchez made the starting rotation. But Sanchez was told Tuesday that he would open the regular season in the bullpen.

The team had been gauging interest in Pelfrey on the trade market, even being willing to pay his entire $8 million salary in hopes of getting something in return.

After cutting seven players Wednesday and Pelfrey today, the Tigers have 28 players remaining in major league camp. They have to be down to 25 by Opening Day.

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