Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez came within four at-bats of earning a $200,000 performance bonus on Tuesday.
He won’t get that far. The Pirates waived Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor on Tuesday afternoon. They recalled prospects Rivero Peguero and outfielder Joshua Palacios in corresponding moves.
Telles played this season on a one-year, $3.2 million contract that included a clause that would have paid him a $200,000 bonus if he got 425 at-bats. He finished with 421 at-bats this season, the average number of at-bats per game that comes with a six-figure salary.
The Pirates made the decision with six games remaining in the season, having been eliminated from the postseason last week and expected to sit at the bottom of the National League Central. The decision begs the question: Did the Pirates waive Tellez to avoid paying him $200,000?
Rowdy Tellez will not receive his $200,000 incentive bonus. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Pirates executive explains
According to general manager Ben Cherrington, the decision “has nothing to do with where the at-bats line up.”
“It had no impact on the decision,” Cherrington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Obviously, I’m aware of it. I’m aware of all the players’ contracts. It has no impact whatsoever, zero.”
Cherrington was also asked whether he was concerned about the impression the decision gave that Bob Nutting’s Pirates might shy away from spending.
“And no, I’m not concerned,” Cherrington continued. “If you’re asking about what the future holds and how it will affect the business and so on, no. The deal will be negotiated in good faith. And it will be done.”
Cherrington also said he isn’t worried the decision will have a negative impact on the clubhouse.
“The guys understand where we are,” Cherrington said. “In the old days, when rosters were expanded, we wouldn’t be here having this conversation. But there are 28 positions, 14 of which are assigned to position players. We feel like we have to get as many of those 14 guys on the team as possible who have a good chance of contributing beyond this year. I think the guys understand that.”
Cherrington and manager Derek Shelton maintain the decision was made to give Peguero and Palacios more experience.
“It was just a question of when the minor league season would finish and the players would get here,” Shelton said. “That was what influenced the decision the most.”
Telles’ MLB future is unclear. He’s batting .243/.299/.392 with 13 home runs, 56 RBI and one stolen base in 131 games this season. Telles is 29 years old and a veteran of seven MLB seasons. His time with the Pirates is over.
If his career is over, he will retire with a salary of about $12.5 million. He did not speak publicly about his release Tuesday.
