The Pittsburgh Pirates made a surprising move on Tuesday by designating first baseman Rowdy Tellez for assignment. This decision came with just five games left in the regular season, leaving Tellez four plate appearances shy of earning a $200,000 bonus.
Tellez, who had 421 plate appearances entering Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, was playing for a chance to secure the additional bonus. However, the Pirates’ front office, led by general manager Ben Cherington, decided to remove Tellez from the roster despite the potential financial incentive.
Cherington addressed the media and stated that the bonus was not a factor in the team’s decision to part ways with Tellez. He emphasized that Tellez had been given ample opportunities throughout the season, signing a one-year, $3.2 million deal with the Pirates in the offseason.
During the 2024 campaign, Tellez recorded a .243 batting average with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs in 383 at-bats. While his numbers showed improvement from the previous year, they fell short of his career-high performance in 2022.
Tellez faced early struggles in the season but showed progress as it unfolded. A notable highlight was on July 5 when he hit a home run and a grand slam in a decisive victory over the New York Mets.
The Pirates had playoff aspirations at the trade deadline but a 10-game losing streak in August dashed their hopes. The team was officially eliminated from postseason contention on September 16, leading to Tellez’s designation for assignment eight days later.
In Major League Baseball, players can earn bonuses through incentive clauses in their contracts. While statistical achievements cannot be used as incentives, non-statistical benchmarks such as plate appearances or days on the active roster can trigger bonus payouts.
The Pirates suffered a 7-2 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday, dropping their record to 73-84 for the season. Alongside Tellez, outfielder Michael A. Taylor was also designated for assignment by the team.
The photo credit goes to Jason Mowry of Getty Images, capturing the on-field action and emotions of MLB players throughout the season.
