'No factor at all': Pirates GM defends decision to DFA Rowdy Tellez on cusp of incentive bonus

The Pittsburgh Pirates defended their decision to designate first baseman Rowdy Tellez and center fielder Michael A. Taylor for assignment Tuesday, even though it prevented Tellez from qualifying for a performance incentive.

Tellez signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract as a free agent in December that included another $800,000 in incentives. Ethan Hullihen, who analyzes Pirates payroll and transactions for the Bucs On Deck newsletter, posted on X that Tellez was four plate appearances shy of reaching 425 this season, which would have triggered a $200,000 bonus.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Tellez being so close to reaching the bonus played “no factor at all” in their cutting ties with him with six games remaining in the season.

“Zero factor in the decision,” Cherington said. “Aware of it, certainly. I’m aware of the contracts that all players have. No factor at all, zero.”

Tellez batted .243/.299/.392 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 56 RBIs in 132 games. The Pirates stuck with him despite a rocky start, as he was batting .177 with one home run, eight RBIs and a .463 OPS through the end of May.

Cherington said he wasn’t worried about the appearance that it makes the Pirates, whose $86.4 million Opening Day payroll ranked 28th out of 30 MLB teams, look like they were trying to save money. Or that it would affect their chances of luring free agents in the future.

“No, I’m not concerned. If you’re asking about optics going forward and how it affects business and things like that, no,” Cherington said. “Contracts are negotiated in good faith. Then they live out. We feel like we gave Rowdy lots of opportunity here this year. To his credit, he fought through some difficult times earlier in the year and fought his way out of it. Had periods of success and periods of frustration. This is just where we got to in the season. Had nothing to do with where the plate appearances were lining up.”

Both Tellez and Taylor — who signed a guaranteed one-year deal for $4 million in mid-March — had disappointing seasons offensively for the Pirates. Taylor, a 2021 AL Gold Glove winner, batted .193 with nine doubles, five homers and 21 RBIs in 113 games a season after hitting 21 homers for the Minnesota Twins. Taylor cleared waivers in late August and returned to the lineup.

The Pirates promoted infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Joshua Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis after its season ended Sunday, hoping to get a look at a pair of players who could factor into the future.

Peguero, 23, led all Pirates minor leaguers this season in hits (127), RBIs (79) and doubles (29), tied for first in total bases (203) and second in extra-base hits (46). Palacios ranked second in the International League in the month of September in batting (.394), slugging (.803) and OPS (1.249), first in doubles (13), tied for third in hits (26) and ninth in RBI (16) and OBP (.446). He was recalled from Triple-A on July 4 before being placed on the injured list July 31 with a left hamstring strain.

There are now 38 players on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster.

Cherington thanked Tellez and Taylor for their contributions to the Pirates, calling their release “difficult conversations.”

“We appreciate both of them as professionals. We signed both of them, certainly with the intention to make a run at it this year and have them be a part of it,” Cherington said. “Unfortunately, as things have gone this month and recently, we understand that we’re not going to be playing in October. Our focus has shifted toward making sure that we’re giving players who have the best chance to be a part of 2025 and beyond every opportunity to play and be on the roster. … We need to make sure that we’re getting players in games and on the roster who have the best chance to help us next year.”