With the Pittsburgh Pirates out of playoff rivalry, first baseman Rowdy Tellez was enjoying for a possibility to obtain a $200,000 bonus primarily based on plate appearances. He entered Tuesday with 421 plate appearances, 4 away from incomes that extra bonus.
For Tellez, the possibility was dashed. With 5 video games left within the common season, the Pirates designated Tellez for task earlier than their Tuesday recreation towards the Milwaukee Brewers. With MLB within the last week of its common season, Tellez will probably finish his 2024 marketing campaign at 421 plate appearances, 4 shy of the 425 wanted to earn an additional $200,000.
Pirates basic supervisor Ben Cherington advised reporters that the potential for a $200,000 bonus didn’t influence his choice to take away Tellez from the roster.
“We really feel like we gave Rowdy numerous alternative right here this 12 months,” Cherington mentioned Tuesday.
The Pirates signed Tellez to a one-year, $3.2 million deal within the offseason. Via 383 at bats in 2024, Tellez slashed .243/.299/.392 with 13 house runs and 56 RBIs. Whereas his general numbers are an enchancment from final 12 months (.215/.291/.376 with 13 house runs and 47 RBIs in 2023), it’s a decline from 2022, the place he set a profession excessive in homers (35), RBIs (89) and hits (116).
Tellez struggled to start out the 2024 season, tallying only one house run by Might. However he improved because the season progressed, the exclamation level taking place on July 5 when he hit a homer and a grand slam en path to a 14-2 drubbing over the New York Mets that brought about Pittsburgh to expire of fireworks.
The Pirates had been commerce deadline consumers and entered August chasing a playoff spot. However a 10-game shedding streak originally of the month successfully ended the Pirates’ playoff hopes. The Pirates had been eradicated from playoff rivalry on Sept. 16. Eight days later, the group DFA’d Tellez.
MLB gamers of their contracts are eligible to obtain bonuses by the motivation clause in accordance with the CBA. Per MLB’s Primary Settlement, incentives primarily based on statistical achievement are prohibited. This implies predetermined, non-statistical benchmarks enable gamers to earn more money. For hitters, the most typical incentive is plate appearances. Staying on the lively roster for a sure variety of days also can earn a bonus, relying on the contract.
The Pirates misplaced 7-2 to the Brewers on Tuesday, falling to 73-84 in 2024. Along with Tellez, the Pirates additionally designated outfielder Michael A. Taylor for task.
(Photograph: Jason Mowry / Getty Photographs)