With the Pittsburgh Pirates out of playoff rivalry, first baseman Rowdy Tellez was taking part in for a chance to obtain a $200,000 bonus primarily based on plate appearances. He entered Tuesday with 421 plate appearances, 4 away from incomes that further bonus.
For Tellez, the prospect 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 remaining 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 normal supervisor Ben Cherington advised reporters that the potential for a $200,000 bonus didn’t impression his choice to take away Tellez from the roster.
“We really feel like we gave Rowdy plenty of alternative right here this 12 months,” Cherington mentioned Tuesday.
The Pirates signed Tellez to a one-year, $3.2 million deal within the offseason. By 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 begin the 2024 season, tallying only one house run by Could. However he improved because the season progressed, the exclamation level occurring 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 induced Pittsburgh to expire of fireworks.
The Pirates have been commerce deadline patrons and entered August chasing a playoff spot. However a 10-game dropping streak initially of the month successfully ended the Pirates’ playoff hopes. The Pirates have been eradicated from playoff rivalry on Sept. 16. Eight days later, the crew DFA’d Tellez.
MLB gamers of their contracts are eligible to obtain bonuses by the inducement clause in line with the CBA. Per MLB’s Primary Settlement, incentives primarily based on statistical achievement are prohibited. This implies predetermined, non-statistical benchmarks permit gamers to earn extra cash. For hitters, the most typical incentive is plate appearances. Staying on the energetic roster for a sure variety of days may also 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)
