The Pittsburgh Pirates designated first baseman Rowdy Tellez for project on Tuesday, a transfer that saved the group $200,000 in a efficiency bonus he simply missed reaching.
Tellez was due the bonus if he obtained 425 plate appearances this season, and he had 421.
The Pirates, already eradicated from postseason competition, began the day with six video games remaining of their season.
Tellez had signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract within the offseason with a number of incentives triggered by plate appearances, a possible All-Star choice and postseason awards.
“It didn’t issue into the choice in any respect,” Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton stated of the choice earlier than the group misplaced 7-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers. “It got here right down to when the minor league season ended and these guys getting right here. That’s what factored into the choice probably the most.”
Pittsburgh basic supervisor Ben Cherington additionally defended the timing, saying the bonus was “zero issue within the choice.”
“Conscious of it, actually. I’m conscious of the contracts that every one gamers have,” Cherington stated. “No issue in any respect, zero. And, no, I’m not involved. In case you’re asking about optics going ahead and the way it impacts enterprise and issues like that, no. Contracts are negotiated in good religion. Then they stay out.
“We really feel like we gave Rowdy plenty of alternative right here this 12 months. To his credit score, he fought by way of some tough instances earlier within the 12 months and fought his manner out of it. Had intervals of success and intervals of frustration. That is simply the place we received to within the season. Had nothing to do with the place the plate appearances had been lining up.”
Tellez, 29, hit 13 house runs and drove in 56 runs whereas hitting .243 in 131 video games.
The Pirates additionally designated veteran outfielder Michael A. Taylor for project and recalled outfielder Joshua Palacios and infielder Liover Peguero from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Taylor, in contrast to Tellez, was not approaching any efficiency bonuses. Cherington stated chopping gamers is a tough a part of the enterprise, however he doesn’t anticipate any points throughout the group due to the timing of Tellez’s launch.
“Guys perceive the place we’re,” Cherington stated. “Within the outdated days of expanded rosters, we in all probability wouldn’t be sitting right here having this dialog. However there are 28 spots, and 14 are going to go to place gamers. We really feel like now we have to get the 14 guys on the group, wherever we will, who’ve the very best likelihood to contribute previous this 12 months. I feel our gamers perceive that.
“Doesn’t imply it’s simple. Gamers have relationships. I feel you could be appreciative of who these guys are and respectful and be a very good teammate to them … and in addition perceive that this is part of the sport. It does occur. It’s a kind of issues the place I feel two issues could be true on the identical time.”
Tellez has hit .234 with 105 house runs and 319 RBIs over seven seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2018-21), Milwaukee (2021-23) and Pittsburgh, spanning 664 video games.
Taylor, 33, signed a one-year take care of Pittsburgh within the offseason and hit .193 with 5 house runs, 21 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 113 video games.
In 11 seasons with the Washington Nationals (2014-20), Kansas Metropolis Royals (2021-22), Minnesota Twins (2023) and Pirates, Taylor has hit .235 with 100 house runs, 120 stolen bases and 353 RBIs in 1,082 video games.
Palacios, 29, has hit .230 with two homers and 7 RBIs in 20 video games with Pittsburgh this season.
A fourth-round decide of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, Palacios has spent components of 4 seasons within the majors with the Blue Jays (2021), Nationals (2022) and Pirates (2023-present) and has hit .231 with 12 house runs and 53 RBIs in 153 video games.
Peguero, 23, has performed in 60 video games with the Pirates since 2022, hitting .239 with seven house runs and 26 RBIs.
He hit .257 with 13 house runs and 79 RBIs in 128 video games at Indianapolis this season. He led all Pittsburgh minor leaguers in RBIs, doubles (29) and hits (127) and tied for second with 46 extra-base hits. In six seasons within the minors, Peguero has hit .268 with 56 house runs and 280 RBIs in 516 video games.
–Discipline Stage Media