Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez woke up Tuesday four plate appearances away from earning a $200,000 performance bonus.
He won’t get it. The Pirates released Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor on Tuesday afternoon. They recalled prospects Liover Peguero and outfielder Joshua Palacios in corresponding moves.
Tellez played this season on a one-year, $3.2 million contract. He had a clause that triggered a $200,000 bonus if he made 425 plate appearances. He finishes the season with 421, the average plate appearance value for a six-figure payday.
The Pirates made the decision with six games left in the season. They were eliminated from the postseason last week and are on track to finish last in the NL Central. The decision raises the question: Did the Pirates release Tellez to avoid paying him $200,000?
Pirates bosses explain
According to general manager Ben Cherington, the decision “had nothing to do with where the plate appearances lined up.”
“There is no single factor in the decision,” Cherington said. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette“I know, of course. I am aware of the contracts that all the players have. It has nothing to do with it, zero.”
Cherington was also asked if he was concerned about the image of the decision suggesting the Pirates under owner Bob Nutting might be hesitant to spend.
“And no, I’m not worried about it,” Cherington continued. “If you ask me about the optics going forward and how it affects businesses and things like that, no. Contracts are negotiated in good faith and then they are fulfilled.”
Cherington also said he is not concerned that the decision will have a negative impact on the clubhouse.
“The kids understand where we are,” Cherington said“In the old days of expanded rosters, we probably wouldn’t be here having this conversation. But there are 28 spots and 14 of them are going to be position players. We feel like we have to get the 14 guys on the team, wherever we can, that have the best opportunity to contribute beyond this year. I think our players understand that.”
Cherington and manager Derek Shelton maintain the decision was made to gain more experience for Peguero and Palacios.
“It came down to when the minor league season ended and how these guys got here,” Shelton said. “That was the biggest factor in the decision.”
Tellez’s MLB future is unclear. In 131 games this season, he hit .243/.299/.392 with 13 homers, 56 RBIs and one stolen base. He is 29 years old and a seven-year MLB veteran. His time with the Pirates is over.
If his career ends, he will retire having… He earned approximately $12.5 million in salaryHe did not publicly address his release on Tuesday.