Pittsburgh Pirates facing criticism for cutting Rowdy Tellez just shy of $200K bonus

Pirates GM Ben Cherington mentioned a $200,000 bonus for 425 plate appearances in 1B Rowdy Tellez’s contract that was 4 PAs shy of being activated had “zero issue within the determination” to designate him for project, based on Noah Hiles of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Cherington mentioned, “[We were] conscious of it, actually. I’m conscious of the contracts that each one gamers have. No issue in any respect, zero. And, no, I’m not involved. When 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 reside out. … [It] had nothing to do with the place the plate appearances had been lining up.” Hiles famous Cherington and supervisor Ben Shelton each “voiced little concern” that the choice will “paint the Pirates in a unfavourable mild heading into the offseason.” Cherington mentioned that he didn’t anticipate the choice to “have a unfavourable impression throughout the clubhouse.” Along with Tellez, CF Michael A. Taylor was additionally designated for project. Taylor “was not on monitor for any further efficiency bonuses” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/24).  

BAD REPUTATION: In Pittsburgh, Jason Mackey wrote the transfer to DFA Tellez was “absurd, bringing unfavourable consideration to the staff for completely no purpose.” Given the best way the Pirates are perceived round baseball — “low cost” — this “solely serves to additional that repute, whether or not their causes had been authentic or not.” If nothing else, it “reveals an incapacity to learn the room, an issue that has plagued the Pirates for much too lengthy.” Mackey: “Gamers additionally speak, and I’ve a tough time considering Taylor would give a glowing advice of Pittsburgh to potential free brokers — a authentic drawback contemplating their ongoing battle of convincing guys to play right here.” The identical “must be true for Tellez.” Tellez and Taylor’s salaries are assured. The “solely factor the Pirates saved” was Tellez’s $200,000 bonus, although it “may value them dearly with regards to unfavourable public notion” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/24). In Pittsburgh, Tim Benz writes the “true embarrassment is that it’s all so plausible. It’s simply so on-brand.” The Pirates “had each proper to do to Tellez what they did,” however the “undeniable fact that they felt the necessity to do it’s head-scratching,” although. “Possibly that recouped $200,000 will be well-spent on hiring a public relations agency to show this entrance workplace find out how to learn a room.” The group is “a repeated pinata in baseball circles. It’s a laughing inventory. This determination doesn’t assist” (TRIBLIVE.com, 9/25).